–
BMW will turn Apple CarPlay into a subscription service beginning with its 2019-model-year vehicles.
–
The German automaker currently charges a one-time $ 300 to add Apple CarPlay capability to navigation-equipped BMW models. Going forward, though, navigation-equipped BMWs will come with CarPlay at no charge for one year. Following that first year, customers will need to pay an annual fee of $ 80 to maintain the relationship between their Apple device and their BMW’s infotainment system.
–
BMWs currently are not compatible with Android Auto, although the company did announce its plans to integrate Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa services into its vehicles. A BMW spokesperson was unable to confirm whether the company plans to use a subscription-based model for using these services in their vehicles.
–
- –
- First Drive Review: 2018 BMW X3
- 2017 BMW Diesels Delayed Due to Additional EPA Emissions Testing
- BMW X3 Reviews, Photos, Pricing and More
–
–
–
–
Regardless, BMW’s decision to charge a yearly fee for CarPlay is contrary to industry norms, as all other automakers include the service as a standard or optional feature that spans the life of the vehicle, similar to a sunroof or AM/FM radio. We’ll see if other manufacturers follow BMW’s lead in the future or whether the market will force the automaker to fall back into line and provide it at no extra cost.
–
