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WhatsApp Launches Native CarPlay App With Touch-Friendly Tabs

The update favors quick actions on CarPlay to keep drivers focused through limits on reading threads.

Overview

  • WhatsApp, which pushed iOS version 26.13.74 on Wednesday, made the native CarPlay app available to iPhone users once the updated phone connects to a compatible car.
  • The new in-car interface replaces the old Siri-only setup with a three-tab dashboard for recent chats, call history, and favorite contacts.
  • The chat list shows recent activity but blocks opening full conversations to reduce distraction while driving.
  • The call history view lists incoming, outgoing, and missed calls with names, profile icons, and timestamps, and it lets drivers tap to return a missed call.
  • WhatsApp says messages and calls in CarPlay stay end-to-end encrypted, as the rollout follows a broader push for richer third-party CarPlay apps such as ChatGPT and Google Meet.