A “Smarter” way to drive? Yes, please!

This upgrade is one worth celebrating and surely speaks to the smarter ways of driving! In an effort to enrich the experience of owning Accords spanning the years 2018-2022, Honda is offering an exciting new dealer-installed feature upgrade for these models to the ever-popular Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, features not previously available! This move is part of a broader sustainability effort which aims at maximizing the lifetime value of in-market vehicles by offering these types of upgrades and new Digital services. Bottom line, your vehicle just got one heck of a boost! See what’s in store!

Here’s more….

What we know!

This upgrade will apply to more than 630,000 Accords in the United States which are eligible for this dealer-installed software upgrade. These are vehicles with trims that are originally equipped with wired-only Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, thus enabling wireless integrated access to certain smartphone apps, music, navigation and voice assistants.

This upgrade has the ability to be installed at any authorized Honda dealer, and carries a suggested retail price of just $112, plus a dealer labor charge. Keep in mind with this upgrade that not all Accord owners with vehicles in the range of 2018-2022 will have to incur the cost for the wireless CarPlay as a standalone expense. This will be installed at no additional charge on any qualifying Accord models that are sold as Honda Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, thus providing an even greater value to the certified program. This means that if you buy an eligible used Accord from the dealer, the feature will already be installed.

Sustainability is at the core of this move and supports the automaker’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities by 2050. This is among a wide range of initiatives, including searching for more and more ways to add updates that will serve to enhance the ownership experience for current, second and even third owners!

Other initiatives with similar goals to the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto upgrades include a free Honda Driver Coaching app and the addition of myQ Connected Garage in-vehicle service to the HondaLink and AcuraLink apps.

Jay Joseph, vice president of the Sustainability and Business Development Division at American Honda Motor Co. Inc. elaborated on this recent announcement: “This quick software update enables customers to leverage hardware already in their Honda vehicle to enjoy seamless connectivity through wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.”

“Enhancing the ownership experience and market value of Honda vehicles already in use is a key strategy in pursuit of our goal to have zero environmental impact by 2050.”

This exciting upgrade comes at the same time as Honda’s close competition Toyota introduced new certified pre-owned programs that offer warranties for cars up to a decade old with 125,000 miles on the clock.

Giving you the ability to interact with your Android or iPhone through voice commands and your car’s infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allow drivers to interact with their smartphones through voice commands and the car’s infotainment system, are key components of most vehicles today. And now they can be for these older models, too.

Are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Compatible with my car? Now that answer is a resounding yes!

This upgrade is currently available so if your vehicle applies, get to the “smarter” way to drive! This is an upgrade well worth taking advantage of and celebrating! Get yours today!