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Initially thought of as a driver’s guide to gas stations, future CarPlay apps will be able to pay for fuel right from the dashboard — and they’ll be able to arrive as soon as iOS 16 launches.
Apple’s preview of the future of CarPlay included the news that it would be adding two new categories of apps. Specifically, fuel apps and what the company called driving tasks.
Gas stations are linked to Apple Maps and provide an expanded version of the current ability to find nearby gas stations. In this version of CarPlay, which is not expected in cars until the end of 2023, the app would filter gas stations by price, among other things.
According to ReutersHowever, the CarPlay fuel app goes further. It allows drivers to pay for their fuel directly from the car dashboard.
Apple didn’t announce this, but Reuters reports that Dallas-based gasoline company HF Sinclair says it will use the feature.
“We’re excited about the idea that consumers can navigate to a Sinclair station and purchase fuel through their vehicle’s navigation screen,” said Jack Barger, senior vice president of marketing at HF Sinclair.
While Apple said a new all-dash CarPlay experience would come first to cars by the end of 2023, Thursday’s report says the ability to buy fuel will be available sooner. It suggests that buying fuel may be part of iOS 16, which comes out later this year.