What year did Ford do Apple CarPlay?
Ford began offering Apple CarPlay in 2016 with the launch of its SYNC 3 infotainment system. The rollout started on select models and expanded across the lineup in subsequent years.
Background: what CarPlay means for Ford
Apple CarPlay is Apple’s in-car interface that mirrors iPhone apps on the vehicle’s display. Ford integrated CarPlay through its SYNC 3 platform, enabling iPhone users to control maps, messages, music, and other apps via the car’s touchscreen or voice controls. The core question here is the year Ford first provided CarPlay to customers and how the adoption progressed over time.
Timeline of Ford's CarPlay rollout
Key milestones show when CarPlay arrived and how it spread across Ford's lineup.
- 2016: Ford announces and begins offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with SYNC 3 on selected models; early availability varied by market and trim.
- 2017–2018: Availability expands to more models and trims as Ford updates existing vehicles and introduces new ones with SYNC 3 and CarPlay.
- Late 2010s to early 2020s: CarPlay becomes widely available across a larger portion of Ford’s lineup, with ongoing updates and broader regional support.
In summary, Ford’s first Apple CarPlay support appeared in 2016, with broader adoption across more models and years in the subsequent rollout.
Impact on Ford owners
Customers gained access to iPhone features such as Maps, Messages, Music, and supported apps on the vehicle display, along with Siri-powered controls and safer, hands-free operation.
Conclusion
Ford's Apple CarPlay rollout began in 2016 with SYNC 3 and has since expanded across most of its lineup in many markets, with ongoing updates and occasional wireless CarPlay options on certain models.
Summary: Ford introduced Apple CarPlay in 2016 via the SYNC 3 infotainment system; since then, CarPlay has become widely available across Ford models, with continued expansion and improvements.
What year did Ford get Apple CarPlay?
Ford first offered Apple CarPlay in select 2016 vehicles with SYNC 3 software version 2.0 or greater, and made it a standard feature on all 2017 and newer vehicles equipped with SYNC 3, SYNC 4, or SYNC 4A. For the 2016 models, a USB port hardware upgrade is required from a Ford dealership in addition to the software update.
- 2016 models: Apple CarPlay is available on vehicles with SYNC 3, but only after a software update to version 2.0 or higher and a hardware update to the USB module from a Ford dealer.
- 2017 and newer models: Apple CarPlay became a standard feature on all vehicles equipped with SYNC 3, SYNC 4, or SYNC 4A.
Do 2017 Fords have CarPlay?
Apple CarPlay® is a standard feature on any 2017 or newer Ford equipped with SYNC® 3, SYNC® 4 or SYNC® 4A. It's also equipped with any 2016 or newer Ford with software version 2.0 or greater.
Which 2017 cars have CarPlay?
Standard/Optional
- 2017 Chevrolet Bolt.
- 2017 Chevrolet Camaro.
- 2017 Chevrolet Colorado.
- 2017 Chevrolet Corvette.
- 2017 Chevrolet Cruze.
- 2017 Chevrolet Impala.
- 2017 Chevrolet Malibu.
- 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid.
Which Ford has Apple CarPlay?
All Ford vehicles 2017 or newer equipped with Ford Sync have Apple CarPlay available including the: Ford F-150. Ford Bronco. Ford Bronco Sport.
