Btw it's not like the BMW is the only one charging for the mobile connection in the car... it's basically another cell phone + monthly plan, they are not free.
CarPlay is some firmware, and whatever it costs to certify the unit through the Made for iPhone program. After that, everything comes off my phone including any data. IOW, the Pioneer head unit that has CarPlay I bought for one of our cars doesn't even have a slot for a SIM, because the phone takes care of all that.
So once the R&D is paid for, which I'm happy to pay for (with a suitable margin for BMW) once, CarPlay is essentially free of ongoing costs to the manufacturer.
CarPlay is some firmware, and whatever it costs to certify the unit through the Made for iPhone program. After that, everything comes off my phone including any data. IOW, the Pioneer head unit that has CarPlay I bought for one of our cars doesn't even have a slot for a SIM, because the phone takes care of all that.
So once the R&D is paid for, which I'm happy to pay for (with a suitable margin for BMW) once, CarPlay is essentially free of ongoing costs to the manufacturer.