Notably, Porsche’s latest move, the integration of climate controls and other in-car functionalities into its My Porsche app for CarPlay, highlights its vision. Cyril Dorsaz, the Principal Product Manager at Porsche Digital, in a recent interview with Ars Technica, delved into Porsche’s rationale behind prioritizing CarPlay.
Upon our interaction with the My Porsche app in CarPlay this July, the richness and depth of the feature were palpable. Dorsaz, during his discussion with Ars Technica, underscored the essence of a seamless CarPlay experience for users, emphasizing the inconvenience of toggling between interfaces to control disparate features.
The intent, he shared, was to maintain a consistent user experience (UX) and user interface (UI), mirroring what Apple aficionados are accustomed to on their iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. Delving into details, he revealed that even typography was a strategic decision, with the company choosing Apple’s San Francisco font over Porsche’s to ensure a unified look with other CarPlay apps.
However, as of now, this enhanced CarPlay experience is exclusive to the 2024 Porsche Cayenne. While the timeline for its rollout to older models remains uncertain, Android Auto enthusiasts might have to wait even longer, if not indefinitely. The reason, according to Dorsaz, hinges on the absence of a parallel automaker toolkit for Android and the relatively low prevalence of Android users among Porsche’s clientele.
In stark contrast to Porsche’s pro-CarPlay stance, GM, Tesla, and Rivian appear to be pursuing a path of autonomy over their in-car interfaces. The discontent among iPhone users regarding GM’s departure from CarPlay is palpable, sparking speculation over a potential reversal of its decision.
On the other hand, Ford, like Porsche, has publicly lauded CarPlay, especially against the backdrop of GM’s contentious move. All eyes, however, are on Apple’s anticipated unveiling of the next-generation CarPlay, announced at the 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).
As Apple has projected the debut of cars equipped with this advanced CarPlay by year-end, the automotive and tech worlds are keenly watching.
