Ford's UEV platform will include integrated Apple Maps.

      Digital Trends may receive a commission when you make a purchase through links on our website. Why should you trust us?

      The integration will operate through Apple's new MapKit for Automotive SDK and will bypass CarPlay's phone-mirroring method.

      Apple has announced that Ford's upcoming budget electric vehicle will not require you to choose between a built-in navigation system and one from your phone. Ford's Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform will feature Apple Maps running natively on the car's displays, set to debut in 2027 via Apple’s new MapKit for Automotive SDK, a toolkit designed for automakers to integrate Apple Maps directly into their dashboards.

      An infotainment system that doesn’t require a phone connection

      Currently, accessing Apple Maps on a car’s main screen typically involves using CarPlay. With the native integration of Apple Maps, Ford's upcoming UEV will retrieve Apple Maps data directly, providing drivers with turn-by-turn navigation, natural language prompts, live traffic updates, incident alerts, and detailed place cards for search results, all without needing to connect a phone.

      Drivers will also benefit from route planning that takes charging stops and battery preconditioning into account. Features like these are expected to have a more significant impact on Ford's new budget-friendly electric vehicle compared to higher-end models with larger battery capacities.

      CarPlay will remain an option

      If you prefer using CarPlay for calls, texts, and music, Ford confirms this option will remain available alongside the newly integrated maps. A significant aspect of this development involves what occurs behind the scenes. Ford’s Latitude AI team intends to utilize detailed roadmap data from Apple Maps to enhance a hands-free driving experience. Furthermore, Ford mentions that this data will also support its next-generation BlueCruise highway system to facilitate smoother transitions from highway entry to exit. Apple assures that the same privacy policies will apply as in its phone application, meaning location activities will not be linked to individual drivers.

      For a company aiming to make its upcoming EV lineup more affordable, relying on Apple for navigation instead of developing an in-house solution appears to be a practical choice. However, this may seem redundant to drivers who already use Apple Maps through wireless CarPlay, which activates when they enter the vehicle.

      Pranob is an experienced tech journalist with over eight years spent covering consumer technology. His work has been...

      WhatsApp’s new in-car experience focuses on hands-free control

      CarPlay and Android Auto users can now listen to and reply to messages, view call history, and contact favorites without needing to touch their phones.

      Meta is reworking how WhatsApp functions in vehicles, allowing CarPlay and Android Auto users to do more than just send messages and make calls. The company revealed this change in a newsroom post today, along with several other updates being deployed to the messaging application.

      WhatsApp now offers hands-free functionality in cars

      Read more

      Tesla’s Summer Update introduces enhanced Grok, personalized navigation, and singing evaluation for Caraoke

      Grok becomes more conversational, Caraoke offers scoring, and your Tesla gains significant intelligence.

      Tesla has confirmed that its 2026 Summer Release will be available soon, packed with updates that enhance the driving experience, making the car feel more like a companion. From an upgraded Grok to a system that evaluates your singing, here’s everything you can expect.

      Grok evolves into a more effective in-car assistant

      Read more

      Volvo is launching Apple Music to over 2 million vehicles via a straightforward OTA update

      Your Volvo might soon support Apple Music without requiring CarPlay.

      The division between your smartphone and your vehicle continues to diminish. Volvo has announced it will roll out an over-the-air software update that delivers Apple Music directly to the infotainment systems of more than 2 million cars globally. This means eligible drivers can stream music natively from their vehicle's built-in system, eliminating the need for Apple CarPlay or an iPhone, making Apple Music a seamlessly integrated aspect of Volvo's software environment.

      The update will be available for a wide array of Volvo models, including the EX90, ES90, XC90, S90, V90, XC60, S60, V60, XC40, EX40, and EC40, covering model years from 2020 onwards. However, availability may vary based on the specific vehicle.

      Read more