Apple’s CarPlay system has earned its place in the driver’s seat. It’s so embedded in today’s driving habits that Apple claims nearly 80% of U.S. new-car buyers won’t sign a purchase contract without it. For something that started as a phone mirror, that’s a power move. Building on that success, Apple unveiled CarPlay Ultra at WWDC 2022 and began rolling it out in 2025. The idea? Fuse the “best of the iPhone” with the “best of the car.” Your iPhone basically grabs the steering wheel of your dashboard software and says, “I’ve got this.”
But despite strong interest from iPhone users, not all automakers support CarPlay Ultra. Several major brands (some of whom Apple listed as launch partners) have now either quietly slipped out the back door or slammed it shut altogether. Not only do they refuse to support the new CarPlay Ultra, but in some cases, they’re cutting CarPlay out entirely.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of which carmakers are rejecting Apple’s next-gen dashboard and which ones are embracing it. If you’re planning to buy a new car and you care about how your phone works with it (and let’s face it, you do), this breakdown might save you from an expensive mistake or at least a lifetime of yelling at your car’s voice assistant.
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Which Car Brands Are Dropping CarPlay Ultra?
Although Apple pitched CarPlay Ultra as the logical next step in dashboard software, many automakers didn’t follow the script. Several well-known brands either backed out after initial interest or refused to sign on at all ( and no, they didn’t all say it politely).
At the front of the rejection line stands General Motors, which didn’t just skip CarPlay Ultra, it chose to eliminate CarPlay and Android Auto completely in its new EVs. GM insists this will reduce driver distraction and improve safety. Critics point to the real reason that GM wants full control over the infotainment stack, so it can collect data and sell subscription services.
Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW followed a more polished route. They all support regular CarPlay, but none agreed to let Apple take over the entire UI. Mercedes was the most vocal, claiming that only the manufacturer should design the “digital cocoon” drivers experience inside the cabin. Audi and BMW quietly aligned with that thinking, keeping their in-house systems front and center. Their reasoning is that they’ve spent too much money building branded software just to let Apple cover it with a fresh coat of iOS.
Volvo, Polestar, and Renault took similar positions. These brands either already run Google’s Android Automotive or have software strategies in place that don’t leave much room for a third-party takeover. Renault, in particular, didn’t bother sugarcoating its view, reportedly telling Apple not to “invade” their system.
Toyota, Volkswagen, and most of the Stellantis group (think Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, and friends) haven’t joined the CarPlay Ultra club either. Most offer standard CarPlay, and for now, that’s where they draw the line. None have issued fiery statements, but their absence says plenty. Control, again, appears to be the key issue, especially as more automakers try to turn infotainment into a revenue stream.
Even brands like Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki, and Nissan have stayed quiet on the Ultra rollout. These companies tend to play things safe with in-car tech and probably see little upside in letting Apple run the full dashboard.
In short, while Apple built CarPlay Ultra to create a unified experience between iPhone and car, many automakers saw a different picture – a direct transfer of customer data and control from them to Apple. And in an industry now obsessed with digital services and monthly fees, that’s a deal too many of them were unwilling to make.
Which Brands Are Keeping CarPlay Ultra
Not every automaker ran from Apple’s vision of a fully integrated dashboard. A handful of brands decided to embrace CarPlay Ultra and allow Apple to reshape the in-car experience from the instrument cluster to the center screen. Whether out of strategy, necessity, or genuine belief in Apple’s design chops, these manufacturers took the plunge, and some even rushed to be first.
- Aston Martin earned bragging rights as the first automaker to launch a production car with CarPlay Ultra. The rollout began in mid-2025 across models like the DBX, DB12, and Vantage, with full Apple-led dashboard integration. Unlike other brands that bristled at Apple’s level of control, Aston leaned into it. The company even co-designed a custom theme to keep everything looking unmistakably Aston, right down to the fonts and gauge layouts. This decision likely reflects a mix of pragmatism and positioning: Aston Martin isn’t a software powerhouse, so partnering with Apple gave it a ready-made, high-end experience without the usual UI headaches. In a press release, the company described the result as “delivering a uniquely Aston Martin digital experience powered by Apple”, which sounds like we let Apple handle the hard parts and focus on building the car.
Revolutionary integrated vehicle controls. CarPlay Ultra® provides access to the car’s core system controls, such as heating and ventilation and dynamic driving configurations.
The same levels of integration, connectivity and control as within the native Aston Martin UI and UX… pic.twitter.com/hC6UHmmW0I
— Aston Martin (@astonmartin) May 25, 2025
- Porsche took a more reserved but still affirmative stance. The brand hasn’t launched CarPlay Ultra yet, but it confirmed plans to bring it to future models. Porsche already integrates Apple services like Apple Music and Podcasts natively, so expanding that relationship to the entire interface seems like a logical next step. The company also showed off a working demo of CarPlay Ultra in a prototype late last year, signaling that development is well underway.
- The Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, is also committed to supporting CarPlay Ultra across its lineup. This move came as a surprise to some, considering these brands already offer their own polished infotainment systems. But Hyundai and Kia seem to recognize the value in offering Apple’s interface, especially in markets where iPhone usage dominates. Genesis, as the luxury arm, likely sees CarPlay Ultra as a feature that helps it compete with more established premium brands. In this group’s case, agreeing to Apple’s terms might be less about surrendering control and more about meeting customer expectations and getting a few marketing wins along the way.
Source: Unsplash - Other automakers, including Ford and Honda, haven’t fully committed to CarPlay Ultra but have signaled strong support for Apple integration in general. Ford quickly reassured customers it would not follow GM in removing CarPlay. While Apple hasn’t given a clear timeline for CarPlay Ultra, its messaging leaves the door open for future updates. Honda’s on the same page and they’ve said they’re all about giving drivers options and have no plans to ditch CarPlay or Android Auto, even as they start using Google-based systems in some of their cars.
Compared to the list of holdouts, the number of brands embracing CarPlay Ultra remains small, but their decisions send a clear message. These automakers either saw a shortcut to a better interface or chose to side with the 80% of buyers who expect their car to work like their iPhone. Whether it’s a long-term strategy or a clever way to fill a gap, they’ve bet that a familiar Apple experience still sells cars. And at least for now, they may be right.
Apple claims that more automakers plan to adopt CarPlay Ultra soon, and some still hover in that undecided zone. They haven’t said yes, but they haven’t slammed the door either. Then there’s Tesla, which never supported CarPlay in any form and continues to rely entirely on its own software. For Tesla, it works, for everyone else, CarPlay Ultra looks like the fastest route to something Tesla built years ago. Whether more brands take that shortcut depends on what matters more – control or customer satisfaction.
No CarPlay? Here’s What Drivers Have to Say
We examined how people responded to the news that certain car brands are stepping back from CarPlay Ultra. No surprise here that most of the internet isn’t thrilled. The general vibe? A mix of disbelief, frustration, and a few all-caps rants. GM caught the most heat, since they didn’t just pass on CarPlay Ultra, they’re ditching CarPlay altogether in their EVs. That decision raised eyebrows and lit up entire Reddit threads.
Many users openly state they will refuse to buy a car without CarPlay, no matter how advanced the built-in software claims to be. Others accuse carmakers of chasing subscription money at the cost of customer experience.
You don’t have to take our word for it. Just browse the discussions on Reddit, like this or this one, and you’ll see hundreds of posts echoing the same message – if you drop CarPlay, you drop us as customers.
Final Thoughts
We’re witnessing an interesting moment in the auto industry, where on one side, Apple offers a polished, extensively integrated CarPlay Ultra system that brings the iPhone experience right into the car’s core (it taps into the vehicle’s own systems, like speed, fuel levels, climate control, and more). It transforms the dashboard into a customizable, seamless display that many drivers actually want. And yet, some of the world’s biggest car brands are walking away from it.
We can understand both sides. Apple wants to deliver a better experience and pull more users into its ecosystem. Automakers want to protect their turf, control the interface, and collect a few extra dollars from subscriptions while they’re at it. Most will probably stay in their respective corners, at least until the market tips clearly one way or the other.
Could the backlash from drivers shift the balance? Possibly. But large corporations rarely abandon revenue strategies just because their customers start yelling online. That tactic works better on your neighborhood bakery than on a multinational automaker with a software roadmap and quarterly targets.
