Overview
- CFO Sherry House said at the Barclays Global Auto and Mobility Tech Conference that Ford will keep offering Apple CarPlay as an option for drivers.
- Ford plans to add Google’s Gemini to its vehicles when the platform becomes available in 2026.
- House described a blended approach that pairs third‑party platforms with Ford’s native SYNC apps, which she said have driven engagement up by about 20 points versus SYNC4.
- The stance diverges from General Motors, which is removing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from future EVs in favor of its own software.
- Support for Apple’s new CarPlay Ultra remains uncertain after CEO Jim Farley criticized its first execution and said he has discussed it with Tim Cook, while Bloomberg has reported Tesla may be developing CarPlay support.