According to reports, certain new BMWs will be sold without Android Auto or Apple CarPlay

According to Automotive News Europe, BMW is temporarily shipping some new vehicles without support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay after switching chip suppliers. According to reports, the new supplier’s chips are not yet compatible with Android Auto and CarPlay and will require an update for the software to work.

“The processors placed into these cars in the first four months of this year require updated software to be completely functional and offer Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Wi-Fi capability,” BMW noted in an email.

However, drivers may not have to wait long for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. The automaker informed Automotive News Europe that the feature will be available “by the end of June at the latest” via an over-the-air (OTA) upgrade.

BMW did not specify which models or how many are affected, however vehicles with the manufacturing number “6P1” will not have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. It’s unclear whether the problem is limited to a certain region; according to Automotive News Europe, drivers across the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and France have reported getting their new vehicles without either functionality.

This isn’t BMW’s first concession in response to the chip shortage. BMW stated in November that it would no longer ship certain of its new vehicles without touchscreens and a backup assistant feature, and offered impacted drivers a $500 credit in exchange.

The shortfall also had a significant influence on other automakers, such as General Motors. Wireless charging has been removed from a number of GM vehicles, a fuel management module has been removed from certain of its trucks, and the automated Super Cruise option in the Cadillac Escalade 2022 has been removed. Ford recently began shipping and selling Explorer SUVs without rear heating and air conditioning controls for a limited time.

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger thinks that the chip scarcity, which affects a wide range of sectors in various ways, will endure until 2024.