(Credit: Jibin Joseph)
It’s been a good couple of weeks for Apple CarPlay users. First came support for ChatGPT and Google Meet, and now comes an improved WhatsApp experience with new features and more controls.
On the App Store page, Meta is calling the changes a “Major Update.” Previously, the WhatsApp experience on the infotainment system was limited to a few Siri-powered features but now you have more controls with dedicated tabs for recent calls, favorites, and chat history.
(Credit: Jibin Joseph)You still can’t type messages on the screen, and that’s understandable. To send a message, tap New Message on the homepage, mention the contact you want to reach, and dictate what you want to send. Siri will read the message aloud for you before you send it.
If you need to make edits, tap the Change button (pencil icon). If you are happy with the message, you do not need to take any further action. Siri will send the message automatically.
(Credit: Jibin Joseph)Calls, on the other hand, are straightforward. You can just tap the contact on the Calls or Favorites tab. If it’s someone you don’t call frequently, you can just tap the “Ask Siri to Make a Call” button and mention the name.
These updates are rolling out with version 26.13.74 of the app. I was able to download it and test the updates right away.
As mentioned before, CarPlay users have been receiving significant updates from app developers. With iOS 26.4, Apple enabled support for third-party voice-based conversational apps, and OpenAI was among the first to take advantage, rolling out support for a dedicated ChatGPT app. Now, you can just launch the app and tap a button to have a back-and-forth conversation with the chatbot while driving.
Google Meet is the other app that recently received CarPlay support. The app now lets you join scheduled meetings, but it is audio-only for safety reasons.