Which Cars Have Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for 2019?
Since their mid-decade launch, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have required a physical USB connection in almost all cases. But new in-car multimedia systems are beginning to offer wireless integration of the two platforms — first among aftermarket stereos, but more recently from a few factory systems.
Related: Apple CarPlay Is Getting an Overhaul — and You’re Gonna Want It
BMW was the first automaker to the party, offering wireless Apple CarPlay on select cars beginning with the 2017 model year. Mini, an affiliate of BMW, followed in 2018, and Audi added the feature in 2019. Still, wireless CarPlay from the factory remains rare — despite Apple offering compatibility since iOS 9 way back in 2015 — and wireless Android Auto is still aftermarket-only. The vast majority of both platforms today still require a physical USB cable.
For a more thorough investigation of what we know about both systems, see our FAQ. For the list and some minor caveats for 2019, read on.
Which Cars Offer Wireless Apple CarPlay for 2019?
Counting hybrid variants as separate cars, 27 models from three brands offer wireless Apple CarPlay for the 2019 model year, either as standard or optional equipment. The BMW Group is out ahead on the feature, offering it on all models with factory navigation across the BMW and Mini brands.
- Audi A6
- Audi A7
- Audi A8
- Audi Q8
- BMW 2 Series
- BMW 3 Series
- BMW 4 Series
- BMW 5 Series
- BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid (530e)
- BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe
- BMW 7 Series
- BMW 7 Series plug-in hybrid (740e)
- BMW i3
- BMW i8
- BMW X1
- BMW X2
- BMW X3
- BMW X4
- BMW X5
- BMW X6
- BMW X7
- BMW Z4
- Mini Clubman
- Mini Convertible
- Mini Hardtop
- Mini Countryman
- Mini Cooper SE Countryman plug-in hybrid
Specifics to Note
Some caveats exist for the two lists above. For cars that offer wireless Apple CarPlay or wireless Android Auto integration, the feature may not always be standard; in many cases, automakers restrict wireless access to certain trim levels or optional packages, with conventional wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto elsewhere. In similar fashion, certain variants related to the root nameplate (a hybrid or high-performance version, for example) may also offer the feature, so you’ll want to research the model therein for more specifics. We point out differentiations (the Golf GTI versus the regular Golf, for example) whenever possible.
Finally, this information reflects what we’ve learned from major automakers at the time of this writing, excluding exotic or ultra-luxury brands. Technologies can, and increasingly do, change down the road. Stay tuned in the coming years to see how.
More From Cars.com:
- What Is Apple CarPlay?
- What Is Android Auto?
- Android Auto Gets Easier on the Eyes
- Do Apple CarPlay, Android Auto Keep Data From Your Smartphone?
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Vs. Native Car Tech: What’s More Distracting?
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