Ford Reconfirms Apple CarPlay Support Isn't Going Anywhere

General Motors' decision not to offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, combined with Ford's reluctance to adopt Apple CarPlay Ultra, may be enough reasons to worry about the future of CarPlay in your vehicle. However, there's good news for Apple CarPlay fans who are driving Ford cars, as the company has just confirmed that Apple CarPlay support isn't going anywhere. Ford CFO Sherry House mentioned the automaker's plans for CarPlay and other technologies at the 2025 Barclays Global Auto and Mobility Tech Conference, per Ford Authority.

"We think it's very important to give customers choice and give them access to technology. So that's going to be a key part of what we are doing on a go-forward basis," House said in response to a question. "We think that [Apple CarPlay] is a product that our customers really enjoy, so we're going to continue to allow them to have access to that."

That's great news to current and future Ford car owners who want support for third-party infotainment systems in the car, rather than the default software cars ship with. Ford's comments also give the automaker an advantage over those rivals who aren't willing to support CarPlay and Android Auto, like GM.

Ford's comments may be reassuring, but they're not exactly the news some Ford owners were waiting for. Ford cars do not support Apple's next version of CarPlay, the CarPlay Ultra experience that allows Apple to integrate the iPhone more deeply with the car. Ford CEO Jim Farley said in an interview with The Verge in late September that Ford doesn't like Apple's first version of CarPlay Ultra, which is why the carmaker has not embraced it. Farley suggested at the time that Apple may want too much control over the car via CarPlay Ultra. 

"Are you going to allow OEMs to control the vehicles? How far do you want the Apple brand to go? Do you want the Apple brand to start the car? Do you want the Apple brand to limit the speed? Do you want the Apple brand to limit access?" the CEO asked rhetorically.

House's comments are being widely reported in late December, but the Barclays event happened in mid-November, several weeks after Farley's interview where he addressed the absence of CarPlay Ultra from Ford cars. The CFO may have wanted to make it clear that Ford may not appreciate the latest version of CarPlay, but the original Apple CarPlay experience isn't going to disappear from Ford cars. That's an important distinction to make to avoid alienating buyers.

Interestingly, House also said that Ford will "bring in Gemini in 2026 as soon as that's available." The CFO is likely referring to Gemini support for cars. Finally, House said that Ford will continue to develop its own native apps that will allow Ford to "get deeply connected" with its customers. According to House, some of Ford's latest apps and features "have just gone up about 20 points in engagement levels" from the previous SYNC4 version.