Toyota Becomes First Automaker to Shun Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

9 years, 1 month ago - 3 March 2015, Carbuzz
Toyota Becomes First Automaker to Shun Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
In a recent interview with the New York Times, John Hanson, Toyota's national manager for advanced technology communications, said that his company has been meeting regularly with both Apple and Google on the subject of infotainment systems.

But he then went on to say that his company would not be using either, at least not any time soon, and that Toyota was perfectly happy with its proprietary systems. This is the first time a major automaker in the US has taken this stance.

Porsche has also been very dismissive about the systems, but Audi and VW aren't, so that might not last long. Automakers have quite noticeably struggled to make infotainment systems which are as intuitive or useful as the ones we carry in our pockets in the form of smartphones. One very natural solution to this problem is a system whereby plugging in a smartphone will allow the phone to take over the infotainment screen and some of the buttons in the car, and this is what Android Auto and Apple CarPlay do, depending on what sort of phone you have.