Automakers are getting rid of Apple CarPlay to try and take advantage of $625,000,000,000 opportunity
Published on Feb 20, 2026 at 12:23 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Feb 19, 2026 at 7:25 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Automakers are getting rid of Apple CarPlay for the oldest reason in the world: revenue.
After about a decade, the software is now becoming a huge elephant in the room that automakers want to address.
It used to be mostly about the user experience and control over data.
But now there’s a reason with a dollar sign next to it.
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Why automakers are getting rid of Apple CarPlay
Not so long ago, all automakers relied on their own proprietary infotainment systems.
Then Apple (and Google with Android) saw an opportunity and launched CarPlay.
Nearly all major manufacturers used to support it, but this is changing now.
Automakers are shifting away from Apple CarPlay for three main reasons: system integration, control over data, and revenue.
Integrating Apple CarPlay is easier, but Apple famously tends to run a tight ship when it comes to its own software.
Translated, if your car uses CarPlay, the primary user experience begins and ends with Apple
By getting rid of CarPlay, car makers will be able to collect more data through their own platforms, and they’ll also be able to run their own ads.
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It’s a multi-billion-dollar market
The Ptolemus Consulting Group estimates that location-based advertising is a market worth over $600 billion.
Imagine driving on Sunset Boulevard with the sat nav set for, say, a supermarket.
Now imagine all rival supermarkets paying to have an ad displayed on your car screen.
‘Feeling peckish? There’s an XYZ supermarket two miles ahead,’ something like that.
Removing CarPlay makes sense to automakers for two reasons.
First, that way, they’d have full control over what’s shown.
And second, they’d have full control over revenue, because Apple would almost certainly want a piece of that particular pie.
In a way, automakers essentially want to remove the ‘middleman’.
After beginning his automotive writing career at DriveTribe, Alessandro has been with Supercar Blondie since the launch of the website in 2022. In fact, he penned the very first article published on supercarblondie.com. He’s covered subjects from cars to aircraft, watches, and luxury yachts - and even crypto. He can largely be found heading up the site’s new-supercar and SBX coverage and being the first to bring our readers the news that they’re hungry for.
