Mazda Readies Android Auto, Apple CarPlay Capability

Apple CarPlay demonstrated on a Chevrolet Spark | Cars.com photo by Evan Sears

By Brian Wong

March 13, 2017

CARS.COM — Mazda has announced that it will add Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability to its lineup of cars and SUVs, but it did not offer an official timeline — yet.

The announcement came at a launch for the redesigned 2017 CX-5, but Mazda did not say which vehicle would be the first to debut with the smartphone mirroring technology installed. However, the part of the announcement that will be more exciting to some is that both technologies “should be retroactively upgradeable onto all Mazda Connect systems with a potentially minimal hardware addition needed,” Mazda spokesperson Jacob Brown said.

2017 Mazda CX-5 | Cars.com photo by Brian Wong

It’s an exciting proposition for those who have recently purchased Mazda vehicles and means that they won’t be locked out of adding these features. Mazda Connect made its debut on the 2014 Mazda3 and has spread throughout the lineup since then. It is now offered on each vehicle in the Mazda lineup. Mazda did not say how much potential hardware additions would cost or when they would be available.

This news leaves Toyota as one of the final holdouts against integrating those app technologies, which are now available on more than 200 new models. Read the full statement on the update from Mazda below:

“Mazda has been a CarPlay and Android Auto partner since 2014, so it is no secret that we are developing both systems to interface with our Mazda Connect infotainment system. Both software systems should be retroactively upgradeable onto all Mazda Connect systems with a potentially minimal hardware addition needed. Mazda does not yet have an official timeline for when these should be available or at what cost, however.”

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