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Frost & Sullivan: Apple is ‘too late and too limited’ to tackle automotive market

Published Aug 2nd, 2013 9:10AM EDT
Apple iOS 7 Cars

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Well known business consultant and market research firm Frost & Sullivan recently issued a report that claims Apple’s move to take on the automotive infotainment market with Siri and iOS 7 is “too late and too limited.” Apple announced this past June that it will introduce deeper Siri integration with in-car systems when it releases iOS 7 this fall, but Frost & Sullivan thinks Apple’s move into the space will never amount to much.

“If compared to other players, such as Google and Microsoft, Apple’s intention for the automotive industry seems ambiguous at large and the announcements regarding EyesFree and iOS integration is, at best, a predictable reflex reaction to being left out of the automotive OS game,” Frost & Sullivan analyst Krishna Jayaraman said. “Even if exciting, the ‘iOS for cars’ comes way too late into the market.”

He continued, noting that while Apple’s solutions will not be widely adopted, they may find some niche success with OEMs looking for ready made solutions. Beyond that, they give automotive companies a great opportunity to begin partnering with Apple.

“From an automotive Tier I perspective, this is a great opportunity to partner with Apple and integrate iOS into their overall infotainment framework,” Jayaraman said. “Apple needs to find a way to make this iOS integration backward compatible by working with OEM aftermarket divisions and allowing the solution to be compatible with older vehicles. This can allow Apple to tap into a larger volume of cars and create a deeper impact.”

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.