CarPlay meant a before and after for the concept we had of Apple. There are already many manufacturers that incorporate support for this system that allows you to use the iPhone at the wheel: BMW, Porsche, Ford, Audi, Chevrolet ... more and more models are becoming compatible with CarPlay, and more and more the use of the iPhone in the car is done through this system.
Thanks to the information provided by the automobile portal Cars.com, Mazda will make its car technology compatible with CarPlay via updates to your MZD Connect system (or Mazda Connect in many countries). In addition, they have ensured that if the installation of additional hardware is necessary, this change will be minimal and invasive.
Mazda Connect will allow the integration of CarPlay and Android Auto
During the announcement of its new car, the 2017 Mazda CX-5, the manufacturer announced that it will be the first Mazda car to debut with CarPlay and Android Auto systems. The most important thing is not that it will be the first, but that all those cars (no official confirmation) that have MazdaConnect, they will be able to enjoy this compatibility by means of a mass update.
We have been partners with CarPlay and Android Auto since 2014, so it is no secret that we are developing both systems to interface with our Mazda Connect infotainment system. Both software systems must be upgradeable on all Mazda Connect systems with minimal hardware. It is also necessary. Mazda does not yet have an official timeline for when these (integrations) should be available or at what cost, however.
As you can see, Mazda's idea is do a CarPlay match so that the user can make simultaneous use of both the Apple system and their own system: MZD Connect. On the other hand, it is unknown which cars will have enough hardware to support this integration. As you can read in the statement above these lines, the Japanese car manufacturer confirms that there may be additional costs in the case that the car has essential hardware for the operation of CarPlay.
With the inclusion of CarPlay by the Japan-based manufacturer, there are more than 200 car models in which the Apple tool to use the iPhone in cars is available. You can check the list of all compatible cars in the official website Apple CarPlay.
Source - Cars.com
