iPhone 17 news will undoubtedly dominate technology headlines next week. Yet September 9 could also prove to be a turning point for Apple’s CarPlay Ultra.
While I don’t expect the feature to take the spotlight during Apple’s event itself, the same day marks the start of IAA Mobility in Munich, where Hyundai is poised to confirm support and other automakers may follow.
I’m now confident that September 9, the first day of the expo, is when we’ll see Hyundai reveal its take on CarPlay Ultra, possibly before the iPhone event since the auto show is held in Germany. IAA press events take place in the German morning and afternoon, which means overnight and early-morning hours in U.S. time zones.
There’s a real possibility that CarPlay Ultra won’t be limited to the Hyundai Ioniq 3 concept EV. The list of brands with no CarPlay Ultra commitment is lengthy. However, multiple automakers are both committed to CarPlay Ultra and presenting at the auto show next week. The list includes Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Ford, and Porsche.
While none of these brands have officially confirmed CarPlay Ultra announcements, their presence at the show creates the possibility that support could extend beyond Aston Martin.
The fact that multiple committed partners are sharing the stage at IAA makes this year’s show an important moment to watch, even if next week’s headlines are dominated by iPhone 17.