Pioneer to upgrade existing in-car systems to Apple’s CarPlay

Pioneer has signed an agreement with Apple that will allow it to offer CarPlay on five in-dash multimedia systems. To do this, the NEX systems first need a firmware upgrade.

Apple introduced CarPlay, basically an iOS version for vehicles and known as iOS in the Car, in March. According to Apple, CarPlay makes it easier to make phone calls from the car and access navigation applications. Playing music and showing notifications are also possible applications.

At the introduction, only car manufacturers were mentioned that would include CarPlay in their on-board computers. Apple cited agreements with BMW, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota, among others. However, a manufacturer of separate in-dash multimedia systems has now been added: Pioneer.

Pioneer will add CarPlay through an upgrade in five NEX systems. These are the AVIC-8000NEX, 7000NEX, 6000NEX and 4000NEX. These are this year’s models and the firmware update should be available this summer.

Not only will Pioneer offer CarPlay in separate in-car systems, Alpine will also sell a separate CarPlay system.