BMW to charge $80 annual fee for Apple CarPlay support

The company says the fee will help reduce the initial price of vehicles.

BMW is apparently ready to begin charging an annual fee for drivers who want to use Apple's CarPlay.

Available for free from all other automakers that offer support, Apple's smartphone-mirroring system provides a more intuitive vehicle-optimized interface for accessing phone features via the vehicle's infotainment display.

BMW will soon charge owners $80 per year or $300 for a lifetime subscription.

The company has pitched the move as a strategy that will help reduce the initial costs of vehicles, according to Engadget.

The German automaker still does not support Google's Android Auto. It is unclear if the same subscription fee service will apply if or when the company does add support.