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Ford Reaffirms CarPlay Support, Targets 2026 Gemini Integration

The company prioritizes driver choice over a single proprietary system.

Overview

  • Ford CFO Sherry House said at the Barclays Global Auto and Mobility Tech Conference that customers will continue to have access to Apple CarPlay.
  • Ford plans to bring Google’s Gemini into vehicles in 2026 when the platform becomes available for automotive use.
  • Engagement with Ford’s newer native in‑car apps has risen by about 20 points compared with the prior SYNC4 experience, according to House.
  • Support for Apple’s deeper CarPlay Ultra remains uncertain after CEO Jim Farley criticized the first version’s execution and discussed it with Tim Cook.
  • Industry approaches are diverging as General Motors phases out CarPlay and Android Auto in future EVs, while Bloomberg has reported Tesla may be developing CarPlay support.