Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Citing safety and privacy concerns, Toyota refuses to offer CarPlay and Android Auto

By

2016 Toyota Tacoma
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Many automakers are rushing to offer cars that are compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Toyota, however, is bragging about keeping both infotainment systems out of its cars’ dashboards.

Updated 8-12-2015: Edited to reflect that Scout is free for Toyota owners.

Recommended Videos

Instead, the Japanese car maker has turned to a relatively small California-based company called Telenav for its next brought-in infotainment system. Named Scout GPS Link, the software will make its debut in the updated 2016 Tacoma that’s scheduled to go on sale nationwide in the near future.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Scout GPS Link lets users transfer information and data from their phone to their car’s in-dash screen. Compatible with both Apple and Android devices, it boasts a long list of functions such as one-touch controls, voice recognition and navigation. Downloading the application is free, and it is free to use for owners of compatible Toyota vehicles.

Toyota has yet to comment on its decision to eschew Android Auto and CarPlay, but Telenav provided insight into the matter.

“This is a solution over which Toyota has full control. A big aspect for Toyota was the driver-distraction element and making it a safe experience,” explained Niall Berkery, Telenav’s director of automotive business development.

Notably, the executive pointed out that CarPlay and Android Auto users have to exit an application in order to open up another one. Telenav users can split the display in two in order to access, for example, the navigation and the entertainment functions at the same time. Toyota believes the split-screen features makes roads much safer by reducing distractions.

Telenav hopes to gain access to some of the customer data gathered by Scout GPS Link in order to further develop its infotainment system, but additional details were not published.

Toyota’s surprising decision isn’t necessarily permanent, and the company told industry trade journal Automotive News that it might reconsider the matter once it’s looked into how Android Auto and Carplay protect customer data, and whether or not they help the driver stay focused on the road ahead.

For the time being, a slew of 2016 Toyota models are set to gain Telenav’s Scout GPS Link infotainment system in the coming months. Whether Lexus models will get a Telenav-designed infotainment system is up in the air.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
The next generation of Apple CarPlay will power your entire car, riding the trend of all-screen autos
Apple CarPlay interface

Apple is taking CarPlay to an entirely new level with a huge announcement at WWDC 2022. In what it called a "sneak peek," Apple showed off an entirely new generation of CarPlay that expands beyond infotainment and becomes the car's entire interface, from a gauge cluster screen to the center stack and including every car function.

Almost every car from the past handful of years has CarPlay, and it's one of the most-requested features from car buyers. Even still, it's a pretty disjointed experience that transports you to an entirely different interface and leaves you jumping back and forth to the car's own operating system anytime you want to perform "car" functions and not entertainment functions. With this shift, that all goes away: Apple wants to make CarPlay the only interface in your car.

Read more
Every car compatible with Apple CarPlay
Want to smarten up your ride? Here's a list of all the cars with CarPlay support
what is apple carplay new 1

Apple CarPlay has spread across the automotive industry since it was released in 2014. It has gone through several evolutions, it's more convenient and more user-friendly than ever before, and the list of companies that make it available has grown significantly in the past few years. Even holdouts like Toyota have warmed up to CarPlay, a move largely spurred by overwhelming demand from customers.

The carmaking world is excited about Apple CarPlay and the advancement it gives to the driving experience. But before you jump in, make sure your car is compatible with the software before you purchase. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of every vehicle on the market compatible with Apple CarPlay’s technology. Some companies will charge additional fees for installation or require you to purchase a different model or trim level if you want to add it on. If you’re an Android person, we’ve made a complete guide for Android Auto.

Read more
Motorola MA1 gives your car wireless Android Auto
The Motorola MA1 wireless adapter for Android Auto.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are game-changing smartphone interfaces, and now wireless versions of both systems are rolling out in new cars. If you've got an older car with wired Android Auto only, though, Motorola is unveiling a way to cut the cord at CES 2022.

The Motorola MA1 is an adapter that can add wireless Android Auto to existing cars. Motorola said in a press release that it licenses the technology from Google. Since the company hasn't made a similar arrangement with Apple, CarPlay users are out of luck for now.

Read more