With the iOS versus Android battle readying to shift to yet another medium in the CarPlay vis-à-vis Android Audio face off - i.e. new dashboard systems that let smartphones power the vehicle's main screen- Toyota has let on that it will stick to in-house infotainment systems for the time being.
Toyota is one of the first car makers to have signed-on for the CarPlay initiative by Apple and, therefore, this revelation comes as a bit of a shocker. If one heads over to the CarPlay website, Toyota is clearly listed as one of Apple's partners on the initiative.
The Japan-based automaker's decision to stick to its in-house system in favor of CarPlay, in the near term, has been divulged by Toyota's national manager of advanced technology communications John Hanson.
Apple can at least take solace in the fact that Toyota is not cold-shouldering its CarPlay system for Google's Android Auto in the U.S. market.
"We may all eventually wind up there [sic CarPlay or Android Auto], but right now we prefer to use our in-house proprietary platforms for those kinds of functions," said Hanson to the New York Times.
Apple announced the CarPlay system, which brings touchscreen and voice-activated navigation to vehicles, in March 2014. While 31 auto makers such as Chevrolet, Hodge and Honda to name a few have signed-on to make the system available to customers, Ferrari is the only one to have started offering CarPlay in new vehicles.
Toyota UK's site notes that support for CarPlay will be made available this year; however, with Hanson claiming otherwise it remains to be seen if sticking to the in-house system is applicable for the U.S. market only or other regions as well.
Adoption for CarPlay has been slower than thought, but with Apple set to introduce wireless CarPlay support in iOS 8.3, things may look up for the company.
However, per Richard Wallace, director of transportation system analysis at the Center for Automotive Research, it is unlikely that consumers will see CarPlay become a common feature prior to 2020.
