Following its 2025 debut exclusively in an Aston Martin, Apple's CarPlay Ultra is set to arrive in at least one major new Hyundai/Kia model in the second half of this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. This move could make the high-integration infotainment system available in a more affordable vehicle for the first time.
While the rollout has been slow due to the need for deep collaboration with automakers, this expansion is a significant step. Having CarPlay Ultra in a mass-market car gives Apple leverage to promote the system to other manufacturers, even though it remains far from mainstream.
In related news, Gurman also indicated that regular Apple CarPlay and CarKey support are coming to Tesla vehicles. Tesla is reportedly developing a secondary screen-like option to run CarPlay without interfering with its native software, offering a compromise for customer demand.
CarPlay's popularity stems from its seamless iPhone-to-car integration, offering access to apps like Music, Maps, and Podcasts. Recent iOS updates have added features like Live Activities and widget support, with the upcoming AI-powered Siri expected to further enhance the in-car experience.