Currently the only automotive infotainment systems you can get with CarPlay are expensive. If you can wait until next year, however, the price will drop when Dual Electronics enters the market.
Dual Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Matt Vinson told AUTO Connected Car News, in an exclusive interview, "We have CarPlay currently in development and will have CarPlay units available in 2016."
Dual Electronics is developing CarPlay systems for release next year.
When asked to how much CarPlay headunits will cost, Vinson would not would not reveal pricing but hinted, "Dual is an affordable brand."
Dual Electronics car stereos are available from major retailers including Amazon
The first aftermarket company to introduce CarPlay was Pioneer Electronics, followed by Alpine and Kenwood.
Dual Electronics recently acquired the Jensen car audio business. New CD Dual receivers introduced in June, such as the DC525Bi
Vinson said consumers will embrace the same everyday technology they have found in their phones in their cars. For instance, the stereos with AUX, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (with a Wi-Fi dongle) or MHL/HDMI connections. Most Dual multimedia systems mirror what is on the smartphone with DualMirror technology.
CarPlay gives iPhone functionality to the car headunit. Features include Siri, voice control, text messaging, maps, media and music controls.
Even though CarPlay adds new functionality to car stereos, the number one use for the car stereos is listening to the radio.