By launching our best-selling model, Elantra, with CarPlay and Android Auto support, we are building on our promise to offer more convenience features for today’s modern driver at an affordable price point. Also, the new smartphone integrations will help to keep drivers’ eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, helping to reduce driver distraction.

—Mike O’Brien, vice president of product and corporate planning, Hyundai Motor America

CarPlay delivers an instantly recognizable experience to iPhone users that will help reduce driver distraction due to its familiarity. CarPlay support lets drivers make calls, get directions optimized for traffic conditions, listen to music, and access messages.

With CarPlay, Siri provides drivers an eyes-free experience by responding to requests through voice commands that are easily and directly accessed through the steering wheel’s voice button. Using a Lightning connector, CarPlay works with iPhone 5 and current models running the iOS 7.1 or higher operating systems. Elantra provides an available second USB port for charging because of this wired connection.

Elantra is also compatible with Android Auto for seamless and intuitive operation of the most commonly used smartphone functions including navigation with Google Maps, streaming audio, voice-controlled search capabilities and over 40 approved smartphone apps. Android Auto is compatible with Android phones running Android 5.0, Lollipop or higher.

Apple and Google plan to add more third-party apps in the future, and these will not require any vehicle software updates.

In early 2016, Hyundai will have additional information regarding the availability of CarPlay and Android Auto on other models. This will include information on how existing owners of compatible vehicles with Hyundai’s fourth-generation navigation system or Display Audio can update their vehicles with these features. Android Auto is currently available on 2015 and 2016 Sonata models.