Audi, last Thursday, confirmed that it held “intensive dialog” with Apple and as a result will be offering Cupertino’s CarPlay in its 2015 models. The German car maker will also integrate Android Auto in its future releases and customers will have the option of choosing either option ‘at any time’.
“Audi is bringing the Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay software platforms into cars. Major functions will be integrated into the Audi Multi Media Interface (MMI) in the future”, said the German car maker in a press release.
Audi is the only premium automotive manufacturer that is a founding member of Google Open Automotive Alliance (OAA) – a cooperation it says started in 2014. Audi revealed that the initial integration tests have been successful and are already available in the form of navigation and music streaming services.
Audi’s motives behind integrating both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its future releases seems to be a decision that has been taken in a bid to keep ahead of rest of the flock, but also to provide its customers with ‘always on’ option through services they already use on their smartphones.
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member for Technical Development at AUDI AG said that they have been working closely with Google and Apple in this regards and customers will be able to use “functions available to them on their smartphones via the operating systems in their cars as well”.
The collaboration between Apple and Audi was however unknown till the announcement from Audi.
