A new survey released by J.D. Power last week showed that U.S. consumers continue to favor cars that support Apple CarPlay. The market research firm's annual American Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study found that overall satisfaction with in-vehicle infotainment systems averaged 805 on a 1,000-point scale. The satisfaction of car owners using Android Auto is already very high (832 points), and the satisfaction of car owners using CarPlay is even higher (840 points).
According to J.D. Power, the study was based on a survey of 99,144 U.S. owners of new 2024 vehicles 90 days after purchasing the vehicle. The research period is from July 2023 to May 2024.
CarPlay has consistently performed well in car satisfaction studies since its launch in 2014, so the latest results are no surprise. Before that, though, GM caused controversy last year when it decided to stop offering CarPlay and Android Auto on its new electric vehicles, instead using a software system of its own design. Electric car maker Rivian also prefers to use its own software instead of CarPlay. J.D. Power’s research report further suggests that these automakers are betting against consumer preferences, and it remains to be seen whether they will do the opposite.
Apple's next-generation CarPlay, due out in 2022, isn't yet available in any vehicles, but Apple's website says it will begin rolling out this year. The next generation of CarPlay will be more deeply integrated into a car's multiple screens, offering features like built-in FM radio apps and climate control. It will also be highly customizable, allowing automakers to tailor the system to match their own vehicles.