Apple CarPlay to get Google Maps support

Apple CarPlay will finally get a much-awaited update that will see the inclusion of third-party navigation apps. The announcement was made at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Jose, California. The update will come later this year, and will allow the use of navigation apps like Google Maps, Waze and Here with Apple CarPlay.

The news is sure to be welcomed by Apple iPhone users, especially in India. Unlike other countries in the world where Apple CarPlay comes bundled with Apple Maps, in India, Apple’s phone projection system does not include any navigation service. Google’s Android Auto, on the other hand, has always featured Google Maps.    

Maruti Suzuki took the lead with Apple CarPlay integration in India being the first to offer the feature on its Baleno hatchback. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is becoming a common feature across cars in India, and for many, even an important deciding factor.