The automotive industry is buzzing with excitement about Apple CarPlay Ultra, but not everyone's ready to jump on board. Ford's cautious stance mirrors wider hesitation around Apple's latest in-car push. Apple debuted CarPlay Ultra at WWDC 2025, promising deeper vehicle integration and complete dashboard control. Even so, Ford doesn't think CarPlay Ultra is worth using now, but will look at future versions.
What makes this particularly telling is the pattern of automaker withdrawals. Five brands that initially committed to the new tech have now dipped out: Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Renault and Volvo. That is a high-profile roll call, and it suggests the technology is not delivering the seamless integration these premium brands expected for their customers.
Ford's measured response highlights the balance between innovation and practicality in a fast-moving infotainment world. Being first is not always best, especially with tech drivers touch every single day.
Where does this leave Ford drivers?
PRO TIP: Current Ford owners shouldn't panic about missing out. Ford's SYNC 4 system makes CarPlay Ultra work smoothly when it eventually arrives, and to use CarPlay Ultra, update your iPhone to iOS 17 or newer and check if your car has SYNC 4 or SYNC 4A systems.
The wait-and-see approach can actually help consumers. Ford can observe how early implementations perform in the wild, then avoid the bugs and compatibility issues that often plague first-generation automotive tech. Early adopters are brave. Sometimes they end up being beta testers, whether they meant to or not.
This measured approach aligns with Ford's broader technology strategy of adopting proven solutions rather than bleeding-edge experiments. The industry has seen rushed technology rollouts create safety concerns and customer satisfaction issues that linger for years.
While Apple CarPlay Ultra represents the next evolution in in-car infotainment, Ford's caution helps ensure they implement it when it truly enhances the driving experience rather than simply checking a marketing box. That likely means comprehensive climate control integration and seamless instrument cluster displays, but only after Apple addresses the current limitations around basic vehicle functions.
Ford hasn't announced support yet for CarPlay Ultra, but as always, we'll keep you informed. That is corporate speak for "we're watching this closely but not making any promises."
The key takeaway, Ford's hesitation reflects industry-wide uncertainty about CarPlay Ultra's current value proposition, but their commitment to evaluating future versions suggests eventual adoption once Apple addresses current limitations. Sometimes the best move is no move, at least until you're sure the technology is actually ready for everyday drivers.
For Ford owners, this means you'll probably get CarPlay Ultra eventually, and it will likely be a more polished, fully featured version than what's available today. Not the worst trade-off in the world.
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