Sony Reveals Its First CarPlay-Supported Audio System, Coming in November

Sony today announced its first CarPlay-supported in-car audio system, the XAV-AX100, which the company touts as offering "everything you need" for long car journeys, including smartphone connectivity, a high-quality sound system, and voice command features. Following Alpine, Kenwood, JVC, JBL, and Pioneer, Sony is the newest company to manufacture aftermarket CarPlay systems.

Thanks to the inclusion of CarPlay, Apple's in-car software platform, users with Sony's new system installed can access Apple Maps, Apple Music, make phone calls, send text messages, and control various functions with the help of Siri. The XAV-AX100 system is also compatible with Android's CarPlay alternative, Android Auto.

sony carplay In its announcement, Sony focuses on its new system's sound quality, which it says can "overcome engine noise and reproduce clear sound at any volume with deep and punchy bass." Users can even expand the system with other external amplifiers to get a more customized listening experience in their vehicle.

High power sound comes full throttle with the XAV-AX100 in-car audio system. 55 watts x 4 Dynamic Reality Amp 2 and EXTRA BASS™ low boost circuitry overcome engine noise and reproduce clear sound at any volume level with deep and punchy bass.

The 10-band graphic equalizer gives an astonishing variety of sound, perfectly complementing EXTRA BASS™ for an enjoyable drive. 3-pre out connectivity allows system expandability to connect external amplifiers with a wide range of speaker connections, allowing sound enthusiasts to build their own bespoke system

Users will be able to purchase Sony's XAV-AX100 in-car audio system with included CarPlay support for $499.99 when it goes on the market sometime in late November. The company listed a full roster of the system's technical specifications in its press release.

Related Roundup: CarPlay

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...

Top Rated Comments

lunarworks Avatar
118 months ago
Wow, a company managed to put out a touchscreen car stereo with an interface that doesn't look like it was designed by someone on a caffeine-fuelled '90s Photoshop filter binge. I never thought I'd see the day.

Plus, an actual knob for controlling the volume.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lunarworks Avatar
118 months ago
Does it say anywhere about the car models it can fit into?
Aftermarket car stereos are pretty universal, there's two standardized sizes: Single DIN and double DIN. This one would be double.

If your car doesn't have all kinds of integrated entertainment system ****ery, it should pop right in. Might need a bracket, though.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ike1707 Avatar
118 months ago
..an actual knob for controlling the volume.
This. It's a good looking unit, but that physical volume buttons would be the most relevant selling point to me. For the sake of safe operation while driving, I think a physical volume button is a no-brainer.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yg17 Avatar
118 months ago
How many cars don't? My work recently replaced my 8 year old base model Vauxhall Corsavan, which had an integrated stereo, with a brand new base model Vauxhall Corsavan, which has an integrated stereo. At least the new one has DAB, Bluetooth, and USB - the old one didn't even have aux in, and the CD meant I couldn't even use one of those endless tapes. I found myself listening to Radio 1!
My 2015 WRX stereo isn't integrated and I was able to swap it with a Pioneer unit, but it is a rarity on newer cars. I'm not sure how much longer aftermarket car stereos are going to be around.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macs4nw Avatar
118 months ago
.....Sony are great with sound quality too. Brilliant headphones, brilliant speakers, and brilliant car audio systems.
OK, Kazuo Hirai, no need to convert me :D, I'm a big life-long fan of their TVs, and hope they don't pull out of that market in light of their staggering losses in that business segment. (past TV division losses totaling $7.8 billion over a decade)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rolsskk Avatar
118 months ago


Well, there aren't many standard WRXs, so they probably made it easy to change since a large proportion of the drivers would anyway - they need a loud stereo so they can hear it over the aftermarket exhaust! ;)
Aftermarket....nooooo, it came from the factory like that. :cool: (sarcasm)

Aside from changing out the swaybars/endlinks and the shifter, I'd say that changing the stereo is the biggest night and day difference in a WRX.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)