Longtime holdout Toyota finally embraces CarPlay

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Toyota Avalon CarPlay
CarPlay will be available in the 2019 Toyota Avalon.
Photo: Toyota

Toyota has confirmed it will finally embrace CarPlay in its 2019 Avalon and other vehicles launching this year. The Japanese firm is one of the last major automakers to adopt Apple’s platform, which will be available with all standard packages.

Not every company scrambles to adopt new Apple technologies. Toyota has been holding out on CarPlay since the platform made its debut in 2013, but fortunately for Toyota fans who use an iPhone, it has finally caved.

Toyota will introduce CarPlay this year

In a press release issued on Monday, Toyota confirmed CarPlay will be available with all standard grades of its 2019 Avalon coming this spring. It will also be integrated into other vehicles coming this year, as well as those from its luxury Lexis brand.

CarPlay will require Toyota’s Entune 3.0 or Lexus’ Enform 3.0 multimedia systems with a 9-inch touchscreen. It will require an iPhone to be connected by USB. Toyota will provide more details on upcoming CarPlay-compatible vehicles “soon.”

Toyota rivals like Ford, General Motors, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and many others have already begun integrating CarPlay into their vehicles.

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week, RAM showcased a 12-inch touchscreen that will allow CarPlay or Android Auto to run alongside its own in-car multimedia system in future vehicles.

Via: MacRumors

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