Lucid has finally made it official, announcing on Thursday the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to its lineup of Lucid Air luxury electric sedans. The new interface is available on all Lucid Air models for existing owners through a free over-the-air (OTA) software update, and all new cars will come with the software as standard equipment.
When the Lucid Air launched one of the big question marks around the EV was how its software was going to perform against the industry leader, Tesla. Lucid describes its “digital ecosystem” as being “incredibly intuitive [and] easy to use.” As owners began taking delivery they quickly found the responsiveness of the software didn’t live up to the hype, with reports of lag and delays, all of which led to the fledgling automaker completely rewriting its software and launching Lucid UX2.0 in October last year.
There have been rumours that Lucid was preparing to add Apple CarPlay to their vehicles after one was spotted with the software last year. That day has come with Lucid announcing on Twitter today the CarPlay integration is now standard on their vehicles.
Apple CarPlay® is standard on every #LucidAir. pic.twitter.com/Daw0zDlne4
— Lucid Motors (@LucidMotors) March 23, 2023
Lucid also updated their website showing the typical CarPlay UI on the right side of the 34″ Glass Cockpit Display. The automaker also describes the addition of CarPlay, saying:
“Say hello to the smarter and safer way to use your iPhone in the Lucid Air. Get directions, make phone calls, respond to text messages, enjoy your favorite music, and more — all on the Glass Cockpit display.”
However, despite not being mentioned in the tweet, or having any photos of it running on the vehicle, Lucid also appears to have added Android Auto integration. “Air is even compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and countless other apps,” the website reads.
Tesla of course is one of the lone holdouts in the EV industry in deciding not to integrate Apple CarPlay or Android Auto into its vehicles. The company has instead created its own software that is arguably the best in the industry in all facets. That decision hasn’t sat well with many owners, and even potential owners who have said they won’t buy a Tesla specifically because it doesn’t have either CarPlay or Android Auto integration.
Are you a CarPlay fan? Would you like to see it in your Tesla? Let us know in the comments below.
