Lexus UX to get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay by this year’s Q4

The popular Japanese brand, Lexus has confirmed that its new UX range will get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support in the fourth quarter of 2019. The entry-level UX range will be the second car of the manufacturer to get the smartphone mirroring technology in the local market. These features will make their debut in Australia with the facelifted RX.

A Lexus spokesperson has confirmed that the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration will not only be restricted the facelift models. Even the existing models will also be eligible for this upgrade. The existing UX owners will be provided with a dealer upgrade program to get this feature. However, there are no words from the Japanese marque whether the upgrade will be vouchsafed for free or it will be chargeable.

Paul Williamsen, a spokesperson from the Lexus’ international planning division said, “Our corporation has real specific requirements for preventing driver distraction. So there are some things that perhaps other carmakers might let you do while driving, but that we don’t want the driver doing while rolling,” during UX’s international launch which was held in September last year. He also added, “And for that, it’s surprising to us how tough it is to get a phone OS maker to acknowledge our need for that constraint.”

Prior to this, Lexus had also launched UX models with the aforementioned integrations in other markets like North America.

The luxury vehicle division’s, parent company Toyota will proffer a free upgrade to the existing owners of the new-generation RAV4 by the year’s end. While for the Corolla and Camry owners, the upgrade will not be free.