As Apple’s CarPlay system becomes more mainstream, BMW will finally get on board in the second half of 2016 with at least two models: the BMW X5 M and X6 M.
BMW was one of the first car companies to work with Apple on what would eventually become CarPlay, but ironically and for reasons known only in Munich and Cupertino, BMW is one of the last high-end automakers to field models that incorporate CarPlay into their infotainment systems.
The idea behind CarPlay started as a joint project between Apple and the BMW Group’s California-based Technology Office USA. The initiative was called iPod Out and was designed to enable vehicles to display output from an iOS device using the car’s control buttons and knobs. When the concept finally became CarPlay, Apple listed BMW as being an early adopter, but for some reason, the capability has never shown up in BMW vehicles—until now, apparently. That is strange, considering Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Ferrari, Acura, Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Lamborghini, Honda, and others have adopted it. According to Apple, CarPlay is available on more than 100 models, but none of them are BMWs. That will change this summer.
CarPlay is an interface that enables a vehicle’s infotainment display and controls to serve as the screen and controller for an Apple iPhone. Vehicle occupants will see familiar iPhone icons on their vehicles’ central control screens and be able to navigate those screens using the iDrive controller—or other buttons and knobs—as well as using the BMWs’ voice controller to talk with Siri.
Even though CarPlay is not currently shipping with any BMWs, many models with BMW ConnectedDrive can already access some connected iPhone capabilities, including Siri. CarPlay will take those capabilities to a much higher and more integrated level.
BMW Group Chairman Harald Krüger announced last year that both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto’s similar system would become available on BMW Group products, but did not give a timetable for when new models would come with the systems. The news that BMW will begin selling models with CarPlay capability did not come through a company press release; but rather, from a catalog and price list for the X5 M and X6 M discovered on a German BMW web site and revealed on a Bimmerpost.com forum. The catalog also indicated that a 10.25-inch touchscreen, presumably like the one on the new 7 Series, would be involved.
Some automakers that already have incorporated CarPlay require a direct connection to the phone to make things work. The catalog that lists CarPlay for the X5 M and X6 M seems to support a wireless connection in the BMWs.
For much of last year, speculation was rampant that BMW and Apple might be teaming up to develop a self-driving car for Apple. While there is still widespread belief that Apple is working on such a project, BMW says it is not part of it. Whether that had anything to do with BMW taking so long to integrate CarPlay will probably remain a mystery. For the record, the BMW Group is listed on Apple’s web site as an official CarPlay partner, but the same web site does not list any BMW Group models that support CarPlay at this time.
Another aspect of integrating smartphones with cars—essentially making the vehicle a huge control screen for the phone—is data security and personal information privacy. BMW has expressed concerns in those areas, but it appears that it may have satisfactorily addressed those issues. We certainly hope so.
Connectivity is a high priority for BMW. Apple’s iPhone is the most common smartphone out there. The pairing of the two was inevitable, but given BMW’s early involvement with the concept, we wonder why it took until now. No doubt when it is ready, BMW will issue a press release announcing the arrival of CarPlay in its models and—we assume—across a wider vehicle range than just the X5 M and X6 M.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of Apple, Inc. and BMW AG.]
