In a recent statement, Olabisi Boyle, Hyundai’s senior vice president of product planning and mobility strategy, confirmed the company’s ongoing commitment to support both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in their vehicles for the foreseeable future. This announcement comes amid a growing trend among various automakers, particularly General Motors, which has opted to remove CarPlay from its lineup of electric vehicles (EVs).
Boyle, during an interview with InsideEVs, highlighted the importance of providing options for consumers as the automotive landscape changes. “Right now, we’re still maintaining Android Auto and CarPlay,” she stated. This perspective positions Hyundai in stark contrast to GM’s recent decision—a move that some critics have labeled shortsighted given the popularity and user-friendliness of CarPlay and Android Auto.
The context for Hyundai’s strategy draws parallel to the evolving EV charging infrastructure in the United States. Several manufacturers, including Hyundai, are shifting toward the North American Charging Standard (NACS), originally developed by Tesla. Boyle noted that while automakers are transitioning to this new standard, they are also ensuring their customers have access to various charging options, including adapters for NACS-enabled chargers.
This flexible approach exemplifies Hyundai’s broader strategy of adaptability as the market evolves towards fully electric options while still offering internal combustion engine cars and hybrids in the interim. “Eventually, we’ll all be fully EV,” Boyle remarked, emphasizing the necessity of a robust strategy that doesn’t compromise the company’s operations during the transitional period.
Looking ahead, Boyle hinted at the potential emergence of an innovation that could exceed the capabilities of current systems like CarPlay and Android Auto, suggesting that the industry may soon converge on a new standard for infotainment technology. “There may be better alternatives to CarPlay and Android Auto that people are not even imagining now. That might be the future,” she declared, indicating that Hyundai is actively working on developing proprietary infotainment solutions that could reshape user expectations.
While the immediate outlook for Hyundai’s CarPlay and Android Auto support seems positive, Boyle’s comments reveal a more complex long-term vision. The acknowledgment that these systems may be stop-gap solutions indicates that Hyundai is not planning to rely solely on existing technologies but rather keep pace with the industry’s rapid advancements, unlike GM, which has boldly eliminated CarPlay in favor of building a proprietary system.
Interestingly, Hyundai is notably absent from Apple’s list of automakers that are slated to support the next-generation CarPlay system, suggesting that while they are committed to current technologies, they are also preparing for future developments that may favor their in-house capabilities. Overall, as Hyundai navigates the shifting terrain of automotive technology, its decisions reflect a desire to not only keep up with industry trends but to anticipate and shape the future of in-vehicle connectivity to meet consumer demands.