While they are late to the party, Jaguar Land Rover has announced they will be adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility to select vehicles in their 2019 model lineup. Initially releasing with the 2019 Jaguar I-Pace CarPlay and Android Auto will come standard the included Smartphone Pack package.
Utilizing their newly redesigned InControl Touch Pro or Touch Pro Duo infotainment systems, other models will require a $300 upgrade for the Smartphone Pack option to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
They will also offer some backward compatibility with select pre-2019 models but they are several requirements that must be met for this to work. The Jaguar or Land Rover vehicle will need to have either the InControl Touch Pro or Touch Pro Duo infotainment systems with InCrontrol apps and Wi-Fi. They will also need to have the correct type of USB ports to support a CarPlay or Android Auto connection. While its good that Jaguar Land Rover is finally getting with the times, it’s disappointing they are following BMW by charging a fee for the smartphone connectivity that most manufactures are providing standard.
Now that Jaguar Land Rover is joining the party this leaves Infiniti as one of the lone luxury automotive manufactures to still not offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
