In a recent episode of Decoder with The Verge’s Nilay Patel, Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, made it clear that Apple’s next-gen CarPlay will not be taking over all screens in their vehicles. Instead, Mercedes-Benz is focusing on developing a holistic software ecosystem to meet the evolving technology expectations of their customers.

Apple’s announcement of an advanced CarPlay version in 2022 generated a lot of buzz, especially with its ability to mirror phone functions on auxiliary screens like the gauge cluster. However, Mercedes-Benz has decided not to incorporate this feature into their production models.

During the interview, Källenius highlighted Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to a personalized technology experience for their customers. While Apple is looking to control essential vehicle functions through CarPlay, Mercedes-Benz is sticking with their partnership with Google. They are working on a new navigation feature that leverages Google Maps, developed in collaboration with Mercedes’ engineering team.

Despite industry trends shifting away from phone-mirroring services like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Källenius assured customers that these options will still be available in Mercedes-Benz vehicles. This demonstrates the company’s dedication to offering choices and catering to customer preferences.

In contrast to General Motors’ decision to exclude Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from their upcoming electric vehicle lineup, Källenius emphasized Mercedes-Benz’s open approach towards connectivity options. The company remains committed to providing multiple connectivity options for customers who prefer external mirroring services.

Mercedes-Benz values customer choice and aims to provide a seamless and customizable technology experience for drivers. This commitment is reflected in their ongoing efforts to enhance the digital ecosystem within their vehicles while maintaining flexibility for users who prefer different connectivity options.