Ford to Update All 2016 SYNC 3 Cars to Work With Apple CarPlay

Ford car owners can download a free, over-the-air update via Wi-Fi, use USB, or visit their dealer. As The Verge explains:

To DIY the update, you’ll need to download the right version for your car from Ford’s owner support website. Android Auto is supported for smartphones running Android 5.0 and higher, while CarPlay is compatible with iPhone 5 or later, updated to iOS 7.1 or higher.

In total, 800,000 vehicles are eligible for the update, which is being called a giant step for Ford, which recently hired 400 engineers to work on its connected car initiative.

First introduced in 2014, CarPlay allows car owners to access Apple apps from their vehicle’s infotainment screen, including Phone, Music, Apple Maps, and more. Cupertino says that over 200 car models now support CarPlay, a number that doesn’t include the 2016 Ford models eligible for the new SYNC 3 update.