Mercedes is refusing to use Apple's next-generation CarPlay in its cars: What's the reason?

Mercedes-Benz has announced that they will not be using Apple's next-generation CarPlay in their showrooms. The main reason for this decision is the company's desire not to abandon the head unit in favour of third-party developers.

Here's What We Know

The CEO of Mercedes-Benz has indicated that the new generation of CarPlay, announced by Apple last year, will not appear in the brand's cars due to a strategic desire to preserve the integrity of the digital environment in the cabin. He noted that Mercedes-Benz's operating system is the central system of the car, in which the infotainment system is one of the key domains.

He also emphasised that collaboration with companies such as Google and Apple is important, but that Mercedes remains the architect of its digital environment in the car.

For Mercedes-Benz, the digital environment in the car is one complete software architecture. It covers not only the infotainment system, but also automated driving, body, exterior and interior controls, drive systems and battery management. This architecture also supports a telecommunications module that communicates with the cloud to store personalised user settings and other data. It is important for Mercedes-Benz to maintain control over this environment to ensure that all systems work together optimally and create the world's best digital experience for its customers.

In the meantime, Mercedes will continue to offer the current generation of CarPlay and Android Auto for those who feel comfortable with them, and will also work with Google to develop the next generation of in-car mapping and driving assistant systems.

Source: GRMArena