Apple has been working on CarPlay Ultra, your next-generation infotainment experience Designed to take control of virtually the entire car's dashboard. Although the idea was first presented at WWDC 2022, it wasn't until 2025 that the project began to materialize in a very limited way.
For now, the actual rollout has remained quite exclusive: The first cars with CarPlay Ultra have arrived for Aston Martin owners in the United States and Canada.This leaves the vast majority of European manufacturers still waiting. Meanwhile, rumors are multiplying, brands are joining and leaving the platform, and doubts persist about how and when this platform will reach Spanish and European drivers.
What exactly is CarPlay Ultra and where is it at?
CarPlay Ultra is the a more ambitious evolution of traditional CarPlayInstead of being limited to the central screen, it aims to integrate with the instrument cluster, additional panels, and a significant portion of the vehicle controlsApple's idea is to offer a unified interface, with widgets, maps, music, and car data, all under the same visual language.
Apple presented this concept at WWDC 2022, but The initial schedule has not been metAt the end of 2023, the company targeted Porsche and Aston Martin as the first partners to launch the new experience in 2024. That date passed with hardly any visible movement, and then in January, Apple acknowledged that the arrival of this "next generation of CarPlay" was delayed, although it assured that development was still underway.
The first clear commercial rollout was in spring 2025, with Aston Martin models in North America receiving CarPlay UltraFor now, Apple has not provided a public, detailed, and up-to-date list of manufacturers that will support this advanced version, much less a schedule by market.
This lack of official information leaves many European drivers with an eye on the announcements from the brands themselves, which are gradually revealing their plans, doubts and corrections regarding CarPlay Ultra.
Brands that continue to invest in CarPlay Ultra
Although Apple avoids publishing a closed list of manufacturers on its website, Yes, they have been confirming names in various announcements and presentations.When it first unveiled the new experience in 2022, it spoke of a network of committed partners. Over time, that list has been adjusted.
In May 2025, Apple announced that Hyundai, Kia and Genesis joined as new allies for CarPlay Ultra, thus reinforcing its position in the Asian and European markets, especially in the electric vehicle segment. Alongside them, other more "premium" or market-focused groups and brands continue to emerge.
Counting only the manufacturers who, at the end of 2025According to available information, the list of devices still linked to CarPlay Ultra would include:
- Acura
- Aston Martin
- Ford
- genesis
- Honda
- Hyundai
- Infiniti
- Jaguar
- Kia
- Land Rover
- Lincoln
- Nissan
- Porsche
To this relationship we must add the important nuance that Not all brands have specified which particular models will integrate CarPlay Ultranor in which markets. In many cases, they talk about "future vehicles" or "next generations of products," which leaves room for changes of course, delays, or staggered launches between the United States and Europe.
Manufacturers who have jumped ship
The other big headline surrounding CarPlay Ultra is that Several manufacturers initially announced have decided to backtrackIn its first round of partners, Apple included some big names that, according to various reports, are no longer interested in integrating such a deep experience into their cars.
Mercedes-Benz, which appeared in Apple's initial presentations, It would have abandoned its plans to support the new generation of CarPlayAnd it wouldn't be the only one: according to the British newspaper Financial Times, Audi, Volvo, Polestar and Renault have also opted not to proceed with CarPlay Ultra, despite initially being listed as partner brands.
This departure of European manufacturers and brands with a strong commitment to their own infotainment systems reinforces the feeling that Not all groups are willing to give up so much dashboard space to Apple.In many cases, the strategy involves developing proprietary platforms with connected services and integrated subscriptions, where classic CarPlay remains as a complement, but without reaching the level of deep integration of Ultra.
For the end user in Spain or the rest of Europe, this means that We won't see CarPlay Ultra widely rolled out across all brands.at least in the short term. The strategy will largely depend on each manufacturer's vision regarding control of the car's software.
Hyundai and the IONIQ 3: the great opportunity for Europe
One of the key players in understanding the future of CarPlay Ultra in Europe is Hyundai. Various leaks and rumors published by specialized media outlets, such as Top Gear, suggest that The upcoming Hyundai IONIQ 3 electric vehicle could be one of the first mainstream models to feature CarPlay Ultra..
Hyundai is expected to unveil the IONIQ 3 in early 2026, with many predictions pointing to the Brussels Motor Show as a possible venue. This salon opens its doors on January 9, 2026Therefore, it would fit with the timelines typically used for a major announcement in Europe.
If the IONIQ 3 finally arrives on the market with CarPlay Ultra, it would represent a a very significant expansion of the platform beyond luxury carsThe starting price is rumored to be around... £ 25.000 (about $33.700 at the approximate exchange rate), well below the more than $200.000 that an Aston Martin equipped with the same technology can cost.
This price difference would make the IONIQ 3, and by extension Hyundai, the The first relatively affordable way to access CarPlay Ultra for the European publicprovided that the brand decides to offer the same configuration in markets such as Spain, France or Germany, and does not limit itself to certain versions or countries.
Ford's stance: a nuanced commitment
Ford is another name that Apple has named itself as a partner of CarPlay UltraBut the relationship is not without its nuances. In a recent interview, the company's CEO, Jim Farley, was asked directly whether Ford was considering compatibility with this new version.
The answer was prudent but clear: Farley acknowledged that Ford is working with Apple. and that the brand is "committed" to the collaboration, although it admitted that in the first round of development of Ultra they were not entirely satisfied with the technical execution.
In his words, the “Round 1” of CarPlay Ultra did not meet Ford's expectations, suggesting that The American manufacturer wants more control over the onboard experience or concrete improvements before giving the green light to a widespread rollout in their models.
Even so, the fact that the company's top executive rules out a flat "no" and speaks of frequent conversations with Apple indicates that Ford continues to see value in CarPlay UltraEspecially in markets where drivers have already become accustomed to integrating the iPhone into their cars. It remains to be seen which models will see this commitment implemented, what the timeline will be, and how it will affect the offerings in Europe.
A future full of unknowns for European drivers
With everything we know as of the end of 2025, the feeling is that CarPlay Ultra is progressing, but at a much slower and more uneven pace than some users expected.Between manufacturers who have slowed down or cancelled their plans and those who only speak in general terms, the picture is far from clear.
Apple, for its part, has not yet published one official and complete list of makes and models that will integrate the new experience, something that would help buyers make informed decisions in the medium term. This lack of transparency fuels doubts, especially in regions where car buying cycles are long and connectivity has become a key selling point.
For drivers in Spain and the rest of Europe, the focus is now on the arrival of the first high-volume models with CarPlay Ultrawith Hyundai's IONIQ 3 as a leading contender. Meanwhile, Aston Martin remains the exclusive technology showcase in North America and, presumably, in some units that reach European markets.
Until Apple and the various brands clarify their plans, CarPlay Ultra will remain a promise of a dashboard completely dominated by the iPhone interfaceBut it is currently limited to very specific cases and surrounded by many unknowns about its true expansion in the European market.
