{"slug": "apple-tech-will-underlie-fords-ev-platform", "title": "Apple tech will underlie Ford’s EV platform ↦", "summary": "Apple and Ford announced that Apple Maps will be integrated directly into Ford's upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) Platform through Apple's new MapKit for Automotive SDK, coming in 2027. The integration will deliver navigation powered by Apple Maps and provide road-level information to enable Ford's Latitude AI team to build a hands-free driving experience. CarPlay will continue to be available on Ford vehicles.", "body_md": "### by Dan Moren\n\n[Apple tech will underlie Ford’s EV platform](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/07/apple-maps-to-power-navigation-experience-for-ford-uev-platform/)\n\nApple and Ford today announced that Apple Maps will be integrated directly into Ford’s upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) Platform through Apple’s new MapKit for Automotive SDK. Coming to Ford’s UEV Platform in 2027, this integration will deliver a beautiful and easy-to-use navigation experience powered by Apple Maps directly to the vehicle’s displays. Road-level Maps information will also enable Ford’s Latitude AI team to build a seamless hands-free driving experience.\n\nThis shouldn’t come as a huge surprise: Ford CEO Jim Farley has been [bullish on CarPlay](https://www.jalopnik.com/ford-marketing-head-fuck-gm-5823432/) and the UEV project was previously headed up by Doug Field 1, who spent several years at Apple both on the Mac hardware team and, more significantly, leading up the abandoned car effort.\n\nThis integration is interesting, though, because of the lukewarm reception of [CarPlay Ultra](https://sixcolors.com/post/2025/05/apple-rolls-out-rebranded-carplay-ultra-three-years-after-its-unveiling/) in the automotive industry. The new “MapKit for Automotive SDK”, which as far as I can tell is being announced in this press release, seems more like the Android Automotive approach of building in support at a low level, though here it’s predominantly focused on navigation rather than providing the full stack for the car. Here’s how Apple describes it:\n\nThis integration is made possible by Apple’s new MapKit for Automotive SDK, which allows automakers to embed and customize Apple Maps. The SDK also enables automakers to deliver a cohesive navigation experience for drivers that is consistent with the look and feel of their vehicles, and provides road-level information to help automakers build hands-free driving experiences.\n\nI also appreciated this little tidbit nestled at the very end of the press release:\n\nIn addition to the integration of Apple Maps into Ford’s UEV Platform, CarPlay will continue to be available on Ford vehicles, providing drivers with a safe and smart way to use their iPhone in the car.\n\nTranslation: [Eat it, GM](https://sixcolors.com/post/2023/04/general-motors-hates-your-iphone/).\n\n-\nField announced his departure\n[earlier this year](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/tesla-apple-veteran-doug-field-exits-ford-in-organizational-overhaul/ar-AA20YXsx).[↩](#fnref-40795-departure)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-tech-will-underlie-fords-ev-platform", "canonical_source": "https://sixcolors.com/link/2026/07/apple-tech-will-underlie-fords-ev-platform/", "published_at": "2026-07-23 13:52:44+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-24 21:39:16.864244+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["autonomous-vehicles", "artificial-intelligence", "ai-products", "ai-infrastructure"], "entities": ["Apple", "Ford", "Apple Maps", "MapKit for Automotive SDK", "Ford UEV Platform", "Latitude AI", "Jim Farley", "Doug Field"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-tech-will-underlie-fords-ev-platform", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-tech-will-underlie-fords-ev-platform.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-tech-will-underlie-fords-ev-platform.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-tech-will-underlie-fords-ev-platform.jsonld"}}