The number of carmakers adopting wireless Android Auto and CarPlay keeps growing, and the latest big name to join this select club is BYD.
The company already offered CarPlay wired, but thanks to the latest software updates for the Dolphin, the Seal, and the Atto 3, drivers can now connect their iPhones to their vehicles and run Apple’s driving experience without a cable.
Android Auto is also available in BYD cars, but all models already support wireless connections.
The software update version depends on the car model and market—the update to version 1.3 enables CarPlay wireless connectivity for Dolphin. Dolphins are also getting new touch gestures, such as swiping with three fingers up and down to adjust air conditioning temperature and left and right for fan speed.
The new update for the BYD Seal is 1.20 and also includes an option to disable driver attention warnings.
More carmakers enabling CarPlay wireless proves that despite the trend that General Motors hoped to start, phone mirroring systems live on in the automotive space. Killing off Android Auto and CarPlay is not possible despite the push for in-house infotainment systems, mainly because all drivers have a phone in their pockets, and connecting them to their vehicles for instant access to their apps is extremely convenient.
General Motors has adopted a strategy that caused a massive controversy in its customer base. The General went all-in on Android Automotive for its EVs, beginning with the 2024 Blazer EV, blocking Android Auto and CarPlay. Technically, Android Automotive supports Android Auto and CarPlay, but the American car giant claimed it wanted to provide users with an upgraded experience, and blocking the two was the only way to help them discover the more advanced capabilities.
Apple never shared CarPlay adoption figures, but the company claims that nearly eight in ten new-car buyers in the United States are ready to walk away if their next purchase doesn’t include the iPhone-powered mobile mirroring system. Google says that Android Auto is already available in over 200 million vehicles on the road, albeit no dedicated figures for the wireless version are available.
Drivers whose cars come fitted only with support for wired connections can also upgrade to a no-cord experience using a wireless adapter. These devices connect to the vehicle’s USB port and pair with mobile phones via Bluetooth to play the role of a middleman in charge of transferring data wirelessly.