Apple’s upcoming iOS 18.4 update will bring a small but meaningful change to its in-car iPhone mirroring system, CarPlay. The update will add a third row of icons on the screen, visible only in vehicles with larger center displays. This is a quality-of-life improvement that allows drivers to quickly access more apps without swiping between pages.
The update is currently in beta testing and will be released to the general public in early April. In addition to this change, Apple Maps’ electric vehicle routing feature now supports the North American Charging System (NACS) standard. Ford recently added support for Tesla Superchargers, allowing iPhone users to plan routes that include stops at these charging stations.
To use this feature, iPhone users must connect their device to CarPlay, select their preferred charging network, and enter a destination. Apple Maps will then calculate the estimated state of charge and automatically route drivers to NACS fast charging stations if needed. A Fast Charging Adapter (NACS) may be required for some routes, and battery preconditioning is not available.
Apple has confirmed that it is working with several auto makers on next-generation CarPlay, but has stopped providing a launch timeframe.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/12/ios-18-4-upgrades-carplay-in-two-ways