Apple’s newest version of CarPlay, dubbed CarPlay Ultra, has been touted as a leap forward in phone-to-car integration. But while the technology has made its debut with Aston Martin and is slated for Porsche next, other automakers are signaling caution, including Ford.
In a recent interview on Decoder with Wall Street Journal columnist Joanna Stern, Ford CEO Jim Farley said the company is taking a “wait-and-see” approach before authorizing CarPlay Ultra in Ford vehicles.
A Bigger, Bolder CarPlay
CarPlay Ultra is designed to extend Apple’s reach beyond infotainment. The new system allows drivers to project the interface across multiple screens at once and control core functions such as climate settings and drive mode features previously reserved for in-house software.
Apple’s promise: a smoother, unified digital experience where the car feels like an extension of the iPhone.
The reality so far: only two automakers have publicly signed on, and the rest are hesitating.
Automakers Push Back
Farley is the latest in a line of executives questioning Apple’s ambitions. Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius voiced similar concerns last year, warning against ceding too much control of the car’s digital environment.
Farley echoed those worries, telling Stern that Ford didn’t find Apple’s first version of Ultra convincing.
“We don’t like the execution in round one of Ultra, but we’re very committed to Apple,” Farley said. “I’ve talked to Tim [Cook] many times about this.”
His hesitation is less about Apple’s presence in the car and more about how far Apple intends to go.
Where Does Apple Stop?
Farley laid out the key questions Ford is asking:
-
Should Apple be able to start the car?
-
Should Apple set speed limits?
-
Should Apple control access to vehicle features?
These are not minor issues. Ford already provides enterprise customers with tools to track fleet locations and limit driver behavior through its Ford Pro software. Letting Apple step into that territory, Farley argued, risks creating a “messy” digital experience where responsibilities overlap.
Ford’s Balancing Act
Despite the reservations, Farley stressed that Ford isn’t closing the door. The company remains committed to supporting both CarPlay and Android Auto, unlike General Motors, which controversially blocked access to such systems in its latest EVs.
Instead, Ford is working to improve its Digital Experience platform, which allows users to expand CarPlay across the vehicle’s full screen while layering Ford’s own innovations on top.
“We don’t think we should restrict that to make money off the customers,” Farley said. “We don’t want it to be a hassle.”
The Road Ahead
CarPlay Ultra has spotlighted a growing tension in the auto industry: who owns the digital driver experience—the automaker or the tech giant?
For now, Ford is walking the middle line: giving customers the choice they demand while holding the keys to advanced vehicle functions. Until Apple clarifies how far it intends to push into that domain, CarPlay Ultra’s wider rollout may remain stuck in neutral.
