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BMW Charges Owners for Apple CarPlay Interface
Contrary to other carmakers, which offer Apple and Android smartphone interfaces for free, BMW AG is charging vehicle owners for Apple CarPlay.
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Contrary to other carmakers, which offer Apple and Android smartphone interfaces for free, BMW AG is charging vehicle owners for Apple CarPlay.
BMW currently offers CarPlay on select models for free for the first year. But customers must pay a one-time charge of $300 after the initial trial period.
Starting this summer, owners of 2019- and 2020-model Bimmers can subscribe to CarPlay annually for $80 or pay $300 for the service for the life of the vehicle. The free one-year trial remains.
BMW claims the fee helps keep the sticker price of its pricey luxury vehicles down. The carmaker doesn’t offer Google’s Android Auto system.
Launched in 2014, CarPlay is offered in more than 500 nameplates worldwide across 60 brands, according to Apple. The system allows users to access various iPhone functions directly through a vehicle’s infotainment system.
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