ABI Looks at CarPlay vs. Android Auto while Favoring the Latter
ABI Research has a new report out about Apple's CarPlay vs. Android Auto. They note that just as in the smartphone industry, Apple and Android are now tough rivals in new the battle for automotive dashboard integration. While CarPlay from Apple (the software platform that synchronizes iPhones to vehicle infotainment systems) was first-to-market and had the backing of OEMs such as BMW, Citron, Ferrari, Jaguar/Land Rover, Mercedes, Peugeot, and Toyota and sixteen others. Yet ABI's Senior Analyst Filomena Berardi appears to be cheering on Google's Android Auto. He notes in this report that a few car manufacturers are delaying their rollout of CarPlay as if there's some major problem with CarPlay instead of it just being a new project that is experiencing a normal bump in the road with scheduling conflicts for this year's models.
ABI's Senior Analyst Filomena Berardi said the very same thing in August, as noted by Computerworld. When one analyst is saying the same thing in two reports a couple of months apart, they're trying to spin the story Google's way. Berardi notes that "The exact reasoning is not quite clear at this point; however, many are speculating that there could be issues." Hmm, who are the "many" Mr. Berardi – you and your research team?
After cuing it up for Google, they continue by stating that "The delay could cause an Android Auto ramp-up quicker than previously expected. So far five car models from Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai, and Volvo have announced that they will include Android Auto in 2015 models. In addition, some OEMs have so far only announced they will be supporting Android Auto: Acura, Bentley, Infiniti, Maserati, Renault, SEAT, Škoda, and Volkswagen.
Berardi further notes that "It appears that some car makers are going down either the CarPlay or Android Auto route. This could be because of preference; for example, one car maker stated it felt that more of its customers owned an iPhone, in addition some car makers perceive Google's Android to be a greater threat than Apple. However, in research interviews some car makers liked the fact that Android is a more open platform. Therefore, going forward the majority of car makers will support both; in fact, to-date 20 car makers have said that is precisely what they will do." Nice spin to set up doubt with OEMs on the sideline so that they don't go with Apple exclusively as so many have done already. Chalk one up for FUD.
At the end of the day ABI Research believes that smartphone integration either via MirrorLink, Apple, Android or other will reach 30% of new vehicles by 2019. This will be a mixture of all standards or car makers choosing one over another.
Hopefully in a year's time we'll have better data so that we can correctly conclude who the winners and losers really are. Will it really prove out that it's a three-way race? Will it breakdown by class of car distinction as it does with smartphones? Or will it show that Apple is actually running away with this market? Only time will tell.
Yet for now, while I appreciate ABI's report, I just don't quite trust the author at this point in time for his twist on sticking it to Apple in two reports with the very same negative angle that could only benefit Google's Android Auto in doing so.
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