Apple plans to release iOS 27 in mid September 2026. Multiple reports point to September 14th as the likely date, though Apple has not confirmed an exact day yet. Dealers and installers may want to prepare now, since customers will likely walk in with questions once the update lands on their phones.
1. Video apps are coming to CarPlay. Developers can now build apps that let drivers browse and watch videos on the car’s screen. Apple restricts this to parked vehicles only. If a car cannot confirm it is parked, or does not support the feature at all, the app switches to audio only automatically. Older cars and many current models will not support it even after customers update their iPhones.
2. Siri gets a major upgrade, rebranded as Siri AI. It responds faster and handles longer, more natural requests in the car.
3. A new MiniPlayer appears automatically. Any app that shows now playing information will display it, giving drivers quick access to play, pause, and skip without leaving their current screen.
4. Voice control expands to every app category in CarPlay. It is no longer limited to dedicated voice assistants. Drivers can now ask questions or trigger actions like starting navigation or placing a call from more apps than before.
5. Navigation apps gain route sharing. This lets a third party navigation app share the driver’s route with the vehicle itself, so features like automatic lane changes or EV charging stop planning can work even when the driver is not using the automaker’s built in navigation. This requires a supported vehicle and driver approval, and needs iOS 26.4 or later on the vehicle side.
For dealers, most of these features depend on the vehicle supporting them, not just the update. Your staff may want to know which current models qualify before customers start asking.
Source: Apple WWDC 2026 developer session, “Rev up your CarPlay app.”
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2026/212/
