BMW will be the first auto manufacturer to sell CarPlay as a separate option on its vehicles rather than including it in a package. Unlike other manufacturers, who either include CarPlay as a standard feature or bundle it into a package, BMW will be offering it as a standalone $300 option throughout its entire model line, even up to the top end.
Even customers buying the $138,000 Alpina B7 xDrive will need to spend the extra $300 to add the CarPlay option, regardless of any other packages included in the bundle. By comparison, Porsche offers CarPlay as part of its Porsche Connect package which also provides smartphone vehicle control and monitoring, and Volkswagen provides CarPlay either as part of its Connectivity Package on lower models, which also includes Android Auto and other enhanced media features, or as a standard feature on its higher models.
Ford, Mercedes, Honda, and Audi all offer CarPlay in similar manners. Despite the additional charge, however, the report notes that CarPlay will likely still be factory-installed in many vehicles available at dealerships and the price already included in the invoice for buyers driving a BMW off the lot.
