While Apple appears to be winning in the smartphone battle, Android is slowly emerging as a worthy rival in the automotive sector.
While CarPlay from Apple (the software platform that synchronizes iPhones to vehicle infotainment systems) was first-to-market and had the backing of OEMs such as BMW, Citron, Ferrari, Jaguar/Land Rover, Mercedes, Peugeot, and Toyota it was announced in August 2014 that some car manufacturers are delaying their rollouts of CarPlay.
The exact reasoning is not quite clear at this point; however, many are speculating that there could be issues. The delay could cause an Android Auto ramp-up quicker than previously expected.
So far, five car models from Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai, and Volvo have announced that they will include Android Auto in 2015 models. In addition, some OEMs have so far only announced they will be supporting Android Auto: Acura, Bentley, Infiniti, Maserati, Renault, SEAT, ?koda, and Volkswagen.
Filomena Berardi, senior analyst at research firm ABI Research, commented: ?It appears that some car makers are going down either the CarPlay or Android Auto route. This could be because of preference; for example, one car maker stated it felt that more of its customers owned an iPhone, in addition some car makers perceive Google?s Android to be a greater threat than Apple.
?However, in research interviews some car makers liked the fact that Android is a more open platform. Therefore, going forward the majority of car makers will support both; in fact, to-date 20 car makers have said that is precisely what they will do.
?ABI Research believes that smartphone integration either via MirrorLink, Apple, Android or other will reach 30 percent of new vehicles by 2019. This will be a mixture of all standards or car makers choosing one over another.?
