During the conversation with The Verge, Källenius emphasized the importance of Mercedes-Benz leading the customer experience. He stated, "The short answer is no," when asked about relinquishing total control of the cockpit screens to Apple CarPlay. He further explained, "I fundamentally believe that that holistic customer experience is best done by us, and we will serve you." However, he reassured that existing compatibility with services like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto would continue where appropriate. "We’re not fundamentalists to say, for some reason, we’re not going to allow a customer to use Apple CarPlay if that’s what they choose to do,” he added.
In contrast to this policy, last year, General Motors made the controversial move to prohibit Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its forthcoming lineup of electric vehicles, arguing that the company could provide a more comprehensive software experience than what exists on someone’s phone.
Apple announced its next-gen version of CarPlay, in which the phone-mirroring feature would extend beyond the central touchscreen to also include additional screens like the gauge cluster, back in 2022. Brands like Porsche and Aston Martin have voiced interest in adopting the system but have yet to implement it in any production models.
Alongside continuing support for selective features from Apple and Google (like enhanced navigation derived from Google Maps), Mercedes-Benz underlines its commitment to guiding their interface design strategy rather than fully outsourcing it.
Source: The Verge
