2014 Geneva Motor Show: Apple unveils CarPlay infotainment system

Apple has unveiled its new CarPlay infotainment system at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. The company, in a release, has said that the infotainment system is ‘smarter and safer way to use an iPhone in the car’. The system will be offered by a variety of manufacturers  including Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, GM, Peugeot Citroen, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota. 

The system (when installed in the car) will allow users to access calls, contacts, iTunes, Maps and other functions on the smart phone either using Siri, a touch screen or via knobs and buttons depending on the vehicle. The system integrates the iPhone using the CarPlay integration system but is only available with the iPhone 5C, iPhone 5 and the iPhone5S. 

The press release says that the system will ship with select 2014 model year cars from all the manufacturers mentioned above. Will the CarPlay system be offered in India? Given the unique nature of our car market and the car buyers, we expect that manufacturers here  will soon start offering the system for their products in the local market. However, we expect that it will be a trickle-down effect of sorts, which means that the more expensive cars will debut and then the system will make its way to cheaper vehicles.