Pioneer Announces Apple CarPlay Compatibility For In-Dash Multimedia Receivers
April 15, 2014
You won’t need to buy a new car to experience Apple CarPlay. The new service will be available this summer on five of Pioneer Electronic's NEX in-dash multimedia receivers, the company has announced.
CarPlay will be available through a firmware update for the AVIC-8000NEX ($1,400), AVIC-7000NEX ($1,200), AVIC-6000NEX ($900), AVIC-5000NEX ($750), and AVH-4000NEX ($700).
Each receiver is already on sale at authorized Pioneer Car Electronics dealers nationwide, including Best Buy, Crutchfield, and Car Toys.
According to Ted Cardenas, vice president of marketing for the Car Electronics Division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.:
Pioneer’s years of expertise integrating smartphone connectivity into the automotive environment has provided us the opportunity to be among the first to offer CarPlay to drivers. By providing an aftermarket option, Pioneer’s 2014 in-dash multimedia systems give many iPhone owners the ability to add CarPlay to their current vehicles.Pioneer isn't the only company bringing Apple CarPlay to the aftermarket. Earlier this week, rumors swirled saying that Alpine is preparing a CarPlay-compatible receiver for release later this year. Apple CarPlay was first unveiled in 2013, and arrived this past winter with the iOS 7.1 update. The feature will first be available on select car models from Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Jaguar. Twelve other carmakers have signed on to offer the software in the future, which promises users “a smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car.” See also: An Apple CarPlay Partner Offers Interesting Look Into The SDK, If Doc Brown Owned An iPad mini, This Is How He'd Have Used It, and Volvo, Mercedes-Benz Show Apple’s CarPlay In Action.