Ford is handing Apple a central role in its autonomous vehicle plans. The automaker announced this week that it will use Apple software to power driver-assistance systems in an upcoming line of electric vehicles, a move that gives the iPhone maker unprecedented influence over how a major carmaker’s vehicles operate on their own.
A Deeper Partnership Than CarPlay
Apple’s CarPlay already links iPhones to vehicle displays in hundreds of car models, letting drivers access tools like Apple Maps. This new deal goes further: Apple’s software will directly help manage how Ford’s electric vehicles behave while driving themselves. For the first time, engineers from both companies are working together directly, and Apple Maps will come built into the vehicle itself, so owners won’t need to plug in a phone to use it. Ford CEO Jim Farley called the partnership one of the company’s most significant moves yet, noting it will let Ford offer advanced features without shouldering the full cost of building the technology in-house. Ford plans to launch an electric pickup truck with the new system next year, aiming to price it around $30,000, well below many competing EVs.
Other Automakers Keep Their Distance
Apple’s services chief, Eddy Cue, said Ford is the first major automaker to adopt the software, though Apple hopes to bring other car companies on board. Many manufacturers have historically hesitated to cede so much control to tech giants, wary of losing their direct relationship with customers. Tesla and Rivian have avoided CarPlay entirely in favor of their own systems, and General Motors recently said it would drop Apple CarPlay altogether. Whether Ford’s bet on deeper Apple integration pays off may hinge on how the market responds to its new electric pickup.