Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on aftermarket car radios are a long time coming. Earlier this year Alpine became the first aftermarket stereo maker to implement wireless CarPlay on the iLX-107. Now it looks like JVC/Kenwood may be following up with some aftermarket units that not only incorporate wireless Apple CarPlay but also wireless Android Auto. The company provided very little detail in their press release for CES 2018 and I mean very little as they only mention the resolution of the units.
A lineup of new receivers without disc-reading mechanism with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability and new AV receivers featuring enhanced connectivity with smartphones and equipped with a 6.8-inch LCD panel, such as Wi-Fi-enabled receivers with wireless connectivity for Android Auto. New high-end AV multimedia receiver featuring HD (1280×720) resolution and wide-viewing angle LCD panel and enhanced connectivity with smartphones by supporting Apple CarPlay and wireless connectivity for Android Auto.
The company will also have a 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross on display with a factory-installed audio system that supports both Android and iOS. That makes you wonder if Mitsubishi may soon start offering these head units on a wider scale across their lineup. Perhaps we’re seeing the start of a larger adoption of both Android and iOS integrated factory stereos in the automotive industry. It makes sense to integrate the tech into new cars as most people have smartphones already but it’s a bit too early to say for sure. We’ll certainly be trying to make our way to the Kenwood booth at CES 2018 to check out this new lineup of aftermarket head units.
What do you think of Kenwood bringing wireless Android Auto and CarPlay to their new line of radios? Let us know by leaving your comments down below, or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.
[button link=”https://www.jvckenwood.com/en/press/2017/12/press_171227.html” icon=”fa-external-link” side=”left” target=”blank” color=”285b5e” textcolor=”ffffff”]Source: JVC/Kenwood[/button]
