No chips equals no music. BMW confirms some fashions have been shipped to clients with out Android Auto, Apple CarPlay as a consequence of chip scarcity
German big BMW has shipped sure fashions of automobiles to clients with out Android Auto or Apple CarPlay put in.
This emerged after Automotive News Europe reported that some clients have found that their newly bought BMW doesn’t assist Android Auto or CarPlay as anticipated.
BMW reportedly acknowledged this lacking performance is all the way down to the continuing chip scarcity, which has hit the automotive sector especially hard prior to now couple of years.
No chips, no music
A bit later than a few of its rivals, BMW started together with full assist for Android Auto, CarPlay in almost each new mannequin it bought from 2019 and 2020.
However BMW, like many different automobile makers, is feeling the ache from chip shortages.
To be able to preserve its manufacturing schedule, BMW modified suppliers and started utilizing a chip that doesn’t but assist Android Auto or CarPlay use, it appears.
The excellent news is that this appears to be a short lived situation for the affected automobile homeowners, as BMW reportedly advised Automotive Information Europe that these automobiles will obtain an over-the-air (OTA) replace “by the tip of June on the newest”.
This may lead to these automobiles having the ability to show full Android Auto and CarPlay capabilities.
There isn’t a phrase on which specific BMW fashions might be with out this performance, however punters can apparently examine for “6P1” within the automobile’s manufacturing code, to see if their mannequin is impacted.
Both that or just plug an Android or iPhone into the automobile to see whether it is working.
Impacted fashions had been apparently manufactured within the first 4 months of this yr, and the impacted automobiles had been shipped to the US, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK.
Powerful occasions
BMW is just not alone is having to make powerful selections concerning the chip scarcity, with almost all producers having to quickly droop or cut back manufacturing.
Final yr it was reported that Peugeot was dropping digital speedometers from its 308 fashions, in favour of extra old style analogue ones, due to the chip shortage.
However Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are the 2 main smartphone automotive programs, and are the commonest means clients can work together with their automobile’s infotainment system.
Each programs let automobile homeowners hyperlink their smartphones to the automobile, and run functions resembling Google Maps, Waze, Spotify, and Apple Music to call however a couple of.
Each programs nonetheless rely upon compliant semiconductors and software program.
