What’s new with CarPlay in iOS 17

Apple is introducing new functionality to nearly every iPhone app and feature with iOS 17, and CarPlay isn’t left out. We haven’t seen the “CarPlay” overhaul Apple promised last year yet, but there are a handful of new features.

SharePlay for the music app

SharePlay works with the Apple Music app in CarPlay, which means everyone in the car, including passengers, can contribute to an Apple Music playlist.

As long as the car owner has an Apple Music subscription and starts a SharePlay session from CarPlay, other people in the car can choose the music to play. Each person can scan a QR code generated by the main user to access the playlist to add songs to the in-car Apple Music queue.

Only the person who initiates the SharePlay session must have an Apple Music subscription. Anyone else can use Apple Music‌ to contribute without having to pay.

Electric vehicle charging station improvements

If you have an electric vehicle, Apple Maps can provide real-time charging capability to charging networks compatible with your vehicle. The update should make it easier for EV owners to locate nearby charging stations during a trip.

Message updates

The Messages app in CarPlay has an improved interface that makes it easy to quickly reply to and re-read a message without taking too much attention from the road.

Wall paper

‌iOS 17‌ includes new wallpaper options, which can be expanded to the CarPlay interface.

The all-new CarPlay experience

At WWDC 2022, Apple previewed the next-generation version of CarPlay, which will provide deeper integration with vehicles in the future. Apple didn’t talk about a new CarPlay experience‌ at WWDC 2023, but the company said in 2022 that the first cars with the updated technology will come in late 2023.

CarPlay will support multiple screens that appear across all of the vehicle’s displays, including the instrument cluster. Apple will be able to offer a consistent experience throughout the vehicle, and CarPlay will integrate with the speedometer, tachometer, odometer, fuel gauge, and more.

The vehicle’s climate controls can also be accessed through “CarPlay” in upcoming cars, allowing users to adjust the temperature and activate other climate features inside the vehicle through the “CarPlay” interface.

With a revamped CarPlay set to launch in 2023, we can probably expect to see additional CarPlay features coming in future iOS 17 updates. Car brands that will support the next generation of CarPlay include Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche and Volvo.

Read more

More information about all the new features in the iOS 17 update can be found in our iOS 17 roundup.