Originally intended to provide directions to gas stations, future CarPlay apps will allow you to pay for fuel directly from the dashboard. The feature could potentially be introduced as early as iOS 16.
In his Outlook for the Future of CarPlay, Apple announced two new categories of apps. They are apps for getting gas and what the company calls driving task apps. The gas apps are linked to Apple Maps and offer an enhanced version of the current ability to find nearby gas stations. In this version of CarPlay, which isn't expected in cars until late 2023, the app would filter gas stations by price.
CarPlay function could already appear under iOS 16
However, according to Reuters, the CarPlay gas station app will be even more canIt will allow drivers to pay for their fuel directly from the car's dashboard. Apple has not announced it, but Reuters reports that Dallas-based HF Sinclair Gasoline will use the feature. Jack Barger, senior vice president of marketing at HF Sinclair, said:
We are excited about the idea of consumers being able to navigate to a Sinclair gas station and purchase fuel using their vehicle's navigation screen.
Although Apple has said the new CarPlay experience for cars won't be available until late 2023, Thursday's report says the ability to buy fuel could arrive sooner. This at least suggests that fuel purchasing could be part of iOS 16, which is coming in the fall. (Image: Apple)