Mazda rolls out retrofit Apple CarPlay and Android Auto kits

Mazda Australia has announced the introduction of smartphone mirroring upgrades for existing owners that will enable the operation of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on its vehicles built from early 2014 onwards.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allows users to access the likes of Google Maps, Spotify and other popular apps through the car's infotainment screen. It also enables voice control and text message dictation as well, among other things.

Mazda has been criticised for not offering the popular smartphone integration systems on cars sooner. Some rivals have offered the phone mirroring systems since 2014, with the Ferrari FF the first vehicle to deliver it, while Hyundai was also an early adopter.

Mazda has been beaten to the punch by a motorcycle, the Honda Goldwing, which launched with Apple CarPlay in mid-2017.

There are about 370,000 Mazda vehicles equipped with its MZD Connect infotainment system that will be eligible for the upgrade, for which the recommended price, including fitment costs, is $495.

Owners can expect to have their cars in the shop for around a day, "where a straightforward hardware and software retrofit process will be completed in several hours," reads the Mazda Australia press statement.

Owners of Mazda vehicles built in early 2014 and prior will not be able to access the upgrade.

"The ability to fully integrate this technology into our existing offering will give Australians another reason to choose Mazda, but we are especially happy that it is something we can offer to our existing community of customers," said Mazda Australia's managing director, Vinesh Bhindi.

In 2018 Mazda started offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard on some vehicles, including the updated BT-50 ute and refreshed versions of the CX-9 SUV.

According to Alastair Doak, Mazda Australia marketing director, the upgrade is "...compatible with every single MZD Connect vehicle in our range from January 2014 with the Mazda3".

"We'll start rolling that out as standard very soon on more [vehicle] upgrades we've got coming soon," he added.

Customers who want to retrofit the systems are advised to contact their closest Mazda dealership.

The next Mazda3, the brand's top-selling vehicle, is expected to arrive in Australia in the first half of 2019 and will come standard with the smartphone mirroring software. That vehicle will make its debut in late November at the 2018 Los Angeles motor show.

Stay tuned for more details.