‘Myth’: Most Drivers Don’t Rely On CarPlay As Much As You Think, BMW Says

• Dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto by some automakers has sparked intense debate online.
• But is CarPlay really indispensable? BMW’s data says that while its drivers use the feature, it’s more of a background thing.
• The German automaker claims that its built-in navigation system trumps Apple’s mobile integration.

Not having Apple CarPlay can be a dealbreaker when deciding what car to buy. At least, that’s what the internet says, if you know where to look. But while CarPlay, together with its Android counterpart, is a great addition to the whole user experience, it seems that it’s not quite a must-have feature–according to BMW, that is.

Speaking with BMW Blog, Stephan Durach, the automaker’s Senior Vice President of UI/UX Development, said that customers aren’t relying on CarPlay as much as the internet or the car industry itself might have you believe, and that the whole image of the smartphone mirroring feature is a “myth.”

CarPlay on the BMW i4

Photo by: BMW

Durach referred specifically to using CarPlay for navigation, which it can do by mirroring apps like Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze or others. “People say they’re driving all around and using CarPlay for navigation,” he said. “I can tell you that’s not true.”

The brand’s user experience expert has some beefy information to back his claims, saying that the company collects data from no fewer than 10 million cars. That data is then used to see user behavior patterns and, as a result, make decisions about future software versions and hardware setups. “We can see what our customers are doing, what kind of controls they’re using, in what kind of driving conditions they’re using them,” Durach said for BMW Blog.

So what do BMW drivers use for navigation? Well, the cars’ built-in navigation systems, the company exec said. Compared to navigation systems of old, new software, including that provided by BMW, mostly uses information pulled from the internet, keeping them up to date. That’s not something that could be said of GPS systems from 10 years ago, which needed map updates from DVDs or after a trip to the dealer.

That said, Durach mentioned that while more and more BMW drivers are using the default navigation system, they’re still connecting their iPhones through CarPlay, mainly for the messaging feature.

By now, it’s clear that automakers have split opinions on CarPlay. Some, like Aston Martin, have turned to Apple’s CarPlay Ultra system, which effectively takes over all the screens in the car. Others, like Rivian, General Motors and Tesla, have steered clear of the technology, often citing difficulties in integrating it into the user interface and even safety precautions. BMW, like many other brands, is sticking to standard CarPlay, which can display information on the main infotainment screen.