Ferrari has announced that it will no longer offer dedicated navigation systems in its future models, including the new Purosangue and 12Cilindri. The Italian automaker has recognized that smartphone-based navigation is simply more user-friendly and up-to-date compared to their in-house systems.
According to Emanuele Carando, Ferrari’s head of product marketing, phone mirroring is the most convenient option for their owners, who typically don’t use their cars for daily commutes. Ferrari believes that requiring owners to learn a specific in-car navigation system they’ll rarely use would be an unnecessary burden.
The majority of people worldwide, including Ferrari owners, now have smartphones, which Carando considers the most useful tools for navigation in any car. This decision stands in contrast to General Motors’ recent announcement to drop support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in favor of its own in-house software, which received significant backlash.
It has been about a decade since the launch of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and both have become must-have features in nearly every new car today. Customers now expect this technology in their vehicles, as automakers have struggled for years to provide satisfactory user experiences with their proprietary systems.
By embracing smartphone-based navigation, Ferrari is giving its customers what they want and prioritizing user-friendliness over maintaining a dedicated system. This move reflects the growing trend of automakers leveraging the capabilities of smartphones to enhance the in-car experience.