Mahindra XUV500 finally gets the Apple CarPlay update. Until now, XUV500 infotainment system only offered Android Auto and the Connected Apps feature developed by Mahindra themselves. Rival cars like Jeep Compass, Tata Harrier, MG Hector; already offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Veejay Ram Nakra, Chief of Sales and Marketing – Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “At Mahindra our vehicle offer consumers Accessible Technologies. The introduction of Apple CarPlay enhances the convenience & connectivity offered by the XUV500 and will generate a lot of interest among our potential customers.
To delight our customers, we will provide this update to existing owners of the W11 variant as well. They can visit a Mahindra authorised workshop to get their infotainment system upgraded with Apple CarPlay.”
Existing owners of Mahindra XUV500 W11 trim will be able to get the Apple CarPlay update for free. They will need to get a software update from dealership, which will be done for free of cost. It will take about 30 minutes for the update to be installed in existing cars. New XUV500 W11 variants will come with the update pre-installed from factory. Thanks to Apple CarPlay, owners of Mahindra XUV500 W11 trim will be able to access their iPhone and its features like calls, music, SIRI, etc with ease.
When launched back in 2011, Mahindra XUV500 was one of the most feature rich car on sale in the country. But over the years, many new rivals have entered the segment, which offer more features and technology as compared to the XUV500. Addition of Apple CarPlay will definitely help XUV500 retain a few probable buyers, but not the lot. As cars like MG Hector have taken the technology and feature game to a new level. In order to match that, Mahindra will have to launch a thoroughly updated XUV500.
New generation Mahindra XUV500 is in the making. It is expected to be based on the SsangYong Korando SUV, which made its debut earlier this year. Just like how Mahindra used the SsangYong Tivoli to launch the XUV300, they will use the Korando for the next gen XUV500.
Debut of the new gen XUV500 is expected to take place at the 2020 Auto Expo next year, while launch will take place later in 2020. It will come with a new 2 liter diesel engine which will deliver about 180 hp power. But ahead of that, Mahindra will launch XUV500 with BS6 engine, which has already been spied on test.
