If you’re interested in Apple’s CarPlay technology but don’t have the funds to buy a brand new vehicle, we have some good news.
Pioneer on Tuesday announced plans to add CarPlay compatibility to five of its 2014 NEX in-dash systems, ranging in price from $700 to $1,400, through a firmware update early this summer. The update will let drivers sync their iPhone 5s, 5c, or 5 to the NEX in-car display, and use Siri to get directions, make calls, send and receive messages, and listen to their music.
The news follows reports that car electronics manufacturers Alpine and Clarion are working on new aftermarket consoles to support the in-car iOS platform. But Pioneer is the first company to announce it is adding CarPlay support to its existing aftermarket radios.
“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,” Ted Cardenas, vice president of marketing for the car electronics division of Pioneer USA, said in a statement. “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.”
The update will be available on Pioneer’s AVIC-8000NEX ($1,400), AVIC-7000NEX ($1,200), AVIC-6000NEX ($900), AVIC-5000NEX ($750), and AVH-4000NEX ($700) systems, all of which are currently available at Pioneer dealers like Best Buy, Crutchfield, and Car Toys. For more on the new integration, check out Pioneer’s website.
Meanwhile, if you’re in the market for a new vehicle, CarPlay will arrive this year in select cars from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo. Other car makers said to be embracing the technology include: BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Subaru, Suzuki, and Toyota.
