Getting CarPlay from A to B
This post is adapted from CarPlay for automakers, a Punchkick strategy guide for automotive brands.
As it stands, CarPlay is available on a handful of 2014 vehicles, with many manufacturers promising 2015 offerings, and works with iPhone 5 and above—any iPhones with the Lightning connector. With major manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Volvo planning compatible models in 2015, and with after-market CarPlay infotainment systems from Alpine and Pioneer sating demand in the interim, many drivers will soon be using CarPlay and its limited library of apps in everyday life. How can automakers begin to take advantage?
First, carmakers’ native iOS apps will need to be updated to support CarPlay. (Given the close relationship with Apple that automotive manufacturing support would already entail, it’s likely that a level of collaboration with the company might arise naturally.) Many automakers already have iOS applications in the App Store, most of which offer owner-centered features like service requests and digital versions of the manual. Based on CarPlay’s likely development implementation, the process of adding support for the platform wouldn’t interfere with existing functions, and would instead add car-specific views and features over and above the app’s existing capabilities.
Next, it’s important to consider users’ expectations when building a CarPlay interface. Based on the fact that not every customer will make use of CarPlay, car dashboards cannot be radically redesigned to accommodate one massive display in place of analog buttons for multimedia functions. However, CarPlay can still be the best way to adjust the music volume, place a phone call, or even access vehicle-specific functionality—namely, through Siri or on-screen touch interfaces. Making these features simple and accessible to users through their preferred input method—traditional buttons, voice commands, or touch panels—can help make CarPlay feel like one part of a cohesive car experience.
Critically, car brands should be mindful to prioritize the driving experience above all else. Apple was wise to limit third-party adoption of CarPlay in its early stages—until it feels comfortable with interface limitations and clear best practices, some apps might only serve as a distraction while driving. Apple’s Messages app, for example, features precious few words: conversations are labeled by the contact’s name in large, clear type, but individual chat bubbles are invisible, as is, of course, any sort of keyboard. Instead, drivers can send and receive messages through Siri and voice recognition, eliminating dangerous eye candy from their field of view while preserving the app’s primary function. Similarly, CarPlay’s handful of music streaming apps share a magic interface formula to reduce clutter—basic playback controls and large, legible type, all optionally accessible via Siri voice commands or manual controls in the steering wheel.
There are likely no better examples for brand loyalty than automobiles and smartphones. CarPlay represents the natural evolution of two converging industries, a product of the increased sophistication and capability of automakers’ in-car computers and the ubiquity of mobile OS experiences from technology companies. But more than a whiz-bang feature for high-end interior packages, CarPlay represents an opportunity for automakers to assert themselves as innovative thinkers with technology.
Apple and Google can’t make CarPlay and Android Auto successful all by themselves. The thoughtful collaboration between developers, designers, and car manufacturers will help bridge the technological gap dividing iPhones from “infotainment” in the car. In the end, the features that disrupt the automotive industry from within will be those that best leverage these ecosystems’ tight integration and truly emphasize the driver’s experience. Drivers everywhere are itching for something more than discussing the weather with Siri—and automakers are uniquely positioned to give it to them.