The conflict: Apple's CarPlay Ultra, which lets iPhones control car functions and dashboard displays, is losing support from major automakers. Ten of the original 14 brands announced in 2022 are now backing away, reports the Financial Times.
What's at stake: Control over the car's user interface and software revenue. Automakers don't want their vehicles becoming standardized "iPhones with wheels" and losing their unique brand identity.
Why it matters: Future car profits increasingly come from software services and subscriptions. If Apple controls the interface, automakers lose out on that revenue stream and become just hardware manufacturers for Apple's ecosystem.
What we're watching: How consumers react to Aston Martin's rollout. If buyers love it and start demanding Ultra in other luxury brands, the holdouts may quickly reverse course.
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