Honda was one of Apple’s launch partners when Apple announced CarPlay, its plan to bring iOS into your car, more than a year ago. Now Honda finally has a timeframe for shipping CarPlay vehicles, but you’ll have to wait for 2016 models.
Honda showed off its 2016 Accord at a media event in Mountain View, California. The new sedan will include both CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto, according to Re/code. Despite its promises to support CarPlay last year, Honda has also been throwing its weight behind Android Auto. The company announced in May that the 2016 Pilot SUV would include Google’s infotainment system.
What this means for you: 2016 is shaping up to be the year that CarPlay finally makes meaningful strides. Honda joins major manufacturers like GM, Hyundai, and Ford in shipping new cars with CarPlay integration next year. Toyota is the lone holdout, despite appearing as a partner in Apple’s CarPlay promotional materials.
Roll your own CarPlay
If you can’t wait for manufacturers to make good on their promises to support CarPlay, because they seem to be moving at a snail’s pace, there are aftermarket solutions for putting iOS in your dashboard.
We spent some time with Pioneer’s high-end AVIC–8000NEX and Alpine’s iLX–007 stereo, and while there were a few bugs, dropping $1400 or $800 on an aftermarket solution is a more affordable and more immediate option for folks who just can’t wait to get their hands on CarPlay and don’t want to buy a new vehicle.