Your questions about retrofitting CarPlay and Android Auto

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto bring the key features of your phone to your car's screen: navigation, calls, music, podcasts and messages, which are read out to you and can be answered by voice. Large icons and voice control help you keep your attention on the road.

The difference lies in the phone: CarPlay is made for the iPhone, Android Auto for Android phones. You don't have to choose – all our packages support both and recognise your phone automatically. Find out more about retrofitting CarPlay and retrofitting Android Auto.

Typically cars from around 2000 to 2018 that didn't come with CarPlay from the factory. That might be a car with a single-DIN radio (the slim, classic radio slot) or a double-DIN radio (twice as tall), but also one with a factory screen, such as a BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz. We also upgrade vans and campervans, and we look at youngtimers (modern classics) case by case.

We'll tell you whether and how it works for your car after a free check. You'll find an overview by make under Vehicles and more for camper owners under campervans & vans.

In many cases, yes. A well-kept car that's ten or fifteen years old often has plenty of reliable years ahead of it – it just lacks modern technology. Instead of buying a new car to get CarPlay, you keep the car you know and invest only a fraction of that: from CHF 690, installation included.

That's good for your budget and for the environment, because keeping your car for longer saves the resources needed to build a new one. If major repairs are due anyway, factor them into your decision – we're happy to give you honest advice.

With the Essential, Comfort and Premium packages, we replace the old radio with a new touch display – 9 to 12.3 inches, depending on the package and car – and a matching fascia. You get a completely new system with CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth and, depending on the package, DAB+.

If your car already has a factory screen, for example a BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche or Volvo, the original-look interface (from CHF 790) is often the more elegant solution: the dashboard stays as it is, and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto appear on the original screen. You operate it by touch, if your screen supports it, or with the original controller (iDrive, MMI, Comand). Overview: prices & packages.

You navigate with the apps you already know from your phone: Google Maps, Waze or Apple Maps – with up-to-date maps, live traffic information and alternative routes around congestion. The maps are updated continuously, with no extra cost for map updates, whereas updates for many old factory sat navs are expensive or no longer available at all.

With the Comfort and Premium packages, we also set up offline maps on the display, so you can find your way in dead zones or abroad without data roaming. More: navigation retrofit.

That's what we aim for. Every display is fitted with a vehicle-specific fascia shaped to fit your dashboard – no gaps and no visible cables. The wiring is plug & play, using matching connectors, so none of the original wiring is cut.

With the original-look interface, you won't see any difference from the outside at all, because the factory screen stays. Depending on the car, larger displays may sit slightly proud of the dashboard – we're happy to discuss beforehand how this will look in your model. You'll find installation examples under Examples.

Auto Upgrade is a young company from German-speaking Switzerland. We focus on one thing: bringing modern technology such as CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, DAB+ and cameras into older cars – neatly installed, with honest advice and at a fixed price. Thanks to our pickup and delivery service, you don't even need to drive to the workshop.

We're independent and not tied to any car maker, so we can choose the solution that's technically right for each car. Find out more on our About us page.

We serve Zurich, Zug and the surrounding area. In Zurich and Zug, pickup and return are included in the package price. Elsewhere within 60 km of Zurich – for example Winterthur, Baden, Rapperswil, Lucerne or Schaffhausen – we're happy to collect your car too, for a surcharge from CHF 49, shown clearly in your quote.

Alternatively, you can bring your car to us yourself. Just include your postcode or town in your request, and your quote will show straight away whether a surcharge applies.

The easiest way is our quote form, WhatsApp or a phone call. This information helps us:

• make, model and year (see your Fahrzeugausweis, the vehicle registration document)
• a photo of the dashboard showing the radio or screen
• if known: factory sound system (e.g. Bose), camera or parking sensors
• what you'd like, e.g. a package, DAB+ or a reversing camera

Don't worry if you don't know everything – we'll ask. How we handle your details is explained in our privacy policy.

After your request, we check free of charge which solution suits your car and send you a written fixed-price quote within 24 hours (working days). If you're happy with it, we arrange an appointment, usually within one to two weeks.

We need that time because we order the parts specifically for your car, such as the fascia and adapters. With the Premium package you get priority scheduling. You'll find the whole process step by step under How it works.

We collect your car wherever suits you – at home or at work – at the agreed time. Ideally you hand us the key in person; if that's not possible, we'll find a secure solution together.

We then drive your car straight to the workshop, install the system, test every function and bring it back, usually the same day. So there's no need to take time off work or arrange a lift.

Yes, of course. If you'd rather come yourself, we simply arrange a time for the handover at the workshop. This can be worthwhile if you live outside Zurich and Zug, as there's then no pickup surcharge.

You'll receive the location and time with your appointment confirmation. Even if you bring the car yourself, the personal introduction of around 15 minutes is included: we pair your phone and show you all the functions.

We're happy to upgrade motorhomes, campervans and vans too. However, vehicles with a gross weight over 3.5 tonnes require a different driving licence (category C1 or C), and very tall vehicles don't fit into every workshop. In these cases we arrange the handover individually – for example, you bring the vehicle yourself, or we find another solution together.

Just mention the weight and height in your request. More for camper owners: campervans & vans.

The installation itself usually takes two to four hours. More complex cars, for example with a factory sound system, a MOST bus or an additional camera, can take up to a day. On top of that come a thorough function test and the drive there and back.

As a rule, you'll get your car back the same day. We'll tell you how long your car is likely to take when we arrange the appointment, so you can plan ahead.

Not much. It helps if you:

• remove valuables and personal belongings from the car
• leave the Fahrzeugausweis (vehicle registration document) in the car, as it has to be carried on every journey
• have the code for your original radio to hand, if you have it (often in the service book or on a separate code card) – so the radio can easily be refitted later
• update your phone to the latest software

We'll take care of the rest.

Before we bring your car back, we test every function thoroughly. At handover we take around 15 minutes: we pair your phone, show you CarPlay or Android Auto, navigation, radio and the most important settings, and answer your questions.

You'll of course get your original radio back. Keep it somewhere safe: it lets you restore the original setup at any time, for example before selling the car or returning a leased one.

Just get in touch via WhatsApp or phone. Many questions, for example about settings or connecting your phone, can be sorted out straight away – often with a short explanation or a screenshot.

If there's a fault with the device or the installation, it's covered by our 2-year warranty on device and installation, and we'll put it right. So you're not left on your own with your new technology after handover.

No, as a rule not. Replacing the radio is not a modification that requires an MFK inspection (the Swiss vehicle inspection) or an entry in the Fahrzeugausweis (vehicle registration document). There's no need to visit the road traffic office (Strassenverkehrsamt) – you simply carry on driving as before.

What matters is that the new unit is securely mounted and doesn't restrict your view – we make sure of that during installation. If you have doubts in a particular case, just ask us and we'll clarify it with you beforehand.

Leasing: check your leasing contract first, as some contracts cover changes to the vehicle. Our installation is fully reversible; before you return the car, we can refit the original radio on request (for CHF 149).

Manufacturer warranty: older cars are usually out of warranty anyway. For younger cars, we discuss the situation with you before installation. As we don't cut any original wiring and connect everything plug & play, the intervention in your car is kept to a minimum.

Yes. While it's being transferred and while it's being worked on in the workshop, your car is insured through our business liability insurance.

We drive your car directly to the workshop and back to you, and treat it with the same care as our own. If you have any questions about insurance or the handover, we're happy to answer them before your appointment.

In Switzerland, using a phone without a hands-free system while driving costs a fixed fine (Ordnungsbusse) of CHF 100. In more serious cases, you can also be reported to the authorities (Verzeigung).

CarPlay and Android Auto turn your car into a hands-free system: you make calls through the car's speakers and microphone, have messages read out to you and reply by voice. Your hands stay on the wheel, your eyes on the road – and your phone can stay in your pocket.

Videos are off-limits while driving – for the driver, it's neither permitted nor safe. Only use video apps when you're parked, for example while waiting or at the campsite.

CarPlay and Android Auto are designed for driving: large icons, reduced functions and voice control. Ideally, enter your destination before setting off and use voice commands on the way. The navigation apps also show the speed limit in many places, but the road signs always take precedence. Your attention belongs to the traffic.

The display may store paired phones, contacts, call logs and – if you signed in – your Google account. Before selling, you should therefore reset the unit to its factory settings, which deletes this data.

We're happy to show you how, or do it for you. If you'd like to sell the car in its original condition, we'll refit the original radio (CHF 149). By the way: with CarPlay and Android Auto, your apps and most of your data stay on your phone anyway.

Don't worry: FM is staying for the foreseeable future. The SRG (the Swiss public broadcaster) did switch off its FM transmitters at the end of 2024, but in December 2025 Parliament decided to keep FM. The Federal Council now grants FM licences until the end of 2034, and the SRG is returning to FM with a few stations (planned from autumn 2026).

DAB+ is still worth having: many stations are only available digitally, the sound is clear and free of hiss, station and song info appears on the display, and you hear the same station across Switzerland. DAB+ is also standard in Germany, Austria and Italy. More: DAB+ retrofit.

No. Auto Upgrade is an independent company and is not affiliated with Apple, Google or any car manufacturer. Apple CarPlay is a trademark of Apple Inc., Android Auto a trademark of Google LLC; car brands and model names belong to their respective manufacturers.

We use these names only to describe which systems and vehicles our solutions are suitable for. Being independent has an advantage for you: we're not tied to any brand and choose the solution that's technically right for each car.