Mazda rolls out Apple CarPlay, Android Auto

MAZDA Australia has announced it will offer to upgrade all its MZD infotainment systems with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility in 2018, although exact pricing and timing is yet to be confirmed.

 

The move will mean its entire passenger car and SUV line-up will sport smartphone functionality after its entire BT-50 workhorse range, which does not use MZD, gained the feature when all variants were upgraded with an Alpine infotainment unit in April.

 

Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak announced the updates to connectivity during the launch of the new CX-8 seven-seat crossover this week.

 

“Mazda Australia will offer, by year’s end, an Apple CarPlay and Android Auto upgrade kit, which will work seamlessly with our MZD system and commander (control knob),” he said.

 

“It will be available for all customers, for all models fitted with an MZD infotainment system that first went on sale in Mazda3 in early 2014.

 

“So a customer buying a CX-8 or any other SUV or car will be able to have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in their vehicle by the end of the year.”

 

With pricing to be announced closer to availability, Mazda owners will need to take their vehicle to a dealership for a dealer-fitted hardware module and software update before Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be unlocked.

 

“We haven’t figured that one out yet (cost) … we’re working through that now,” Mr Doak said.

 

“It will look exactly like what we current have except you will be able to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.”

 

Mr Doak downplayed the notion that the feature has been added as a result of buyer feedback, instead saying that the upgrade is being made available to “move with the market”.

 

“We talk to our dealers all the time … we have a group of large-selling dealers who are on our product advisory board and we talk to them all the time (about customer feedback),” he said.

 

“Obviously it’s something that is there … you need to move with the market, but are we seeing people walk out of dealerships because we don’t have it? No.”

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