I’ve been a loyal CarPlay user for years, so this update feels long overdue. WhatsApp is finally working on a proper app for CarPlay, and it’s about time. Until now, all I could do was see notifications pop up on the dashboard, with zero real interaction beyond that. The catch is, it’s still in testing and only rolling out to iOS beta users for now. So yes, it’s coming — but we’re not quite there yet.

Steering clear of full conversations

The WhatsApp CarPlay beta is all about letting you stay connected without taking your focus off the wheel. Once you launch the app from the system launcher, you’re greeted with a dedicated chat list screen — the first tab you see, which neatly displays your recent conversations from roughly the past 20 to 25 days. It’s your road-ready snapshot of what’s been happening in your chats, without throwing the whole conversation history at you.

You can’t dive into full chat threads while driving because, well, safety first. But once you’re back on solid ground, your phone still holds all the details.

The chat list gives you just enough info to keep tabs on your messages: which chats are muted, which are pinned, and when the last message was sent. Beyond that, you can view contact info, dig into detailed call history, and quickly find your favorite contacts. It’s all streamlined for CarPlay, giving you control and context, without tempting you to scroll endlessly while behind the wheel.

A sneak peek before the full ride

Right now, WhatsApp for CarPlay is playing it exclusively, according to WABetaInfo. It’s only available to users who’ve installed the latest iOS beta version of WhatsApp through TestFlight. And since this is a beta, expect a few rough edges. WhatsApp isn’t going all out here either. The focus is clearly on the basics, so don’t expect the full app experience on your car’s screen just yet.

That said, beta users get the first taste. They can try out the interface, see how it fits into CarPlay, and send feedback directly through TestFlight. It’s essentially a preview phase where things can still change before the big rollout. Once everything is polished and stable, WhatsApp will release it for everyone. Until then, it’s a bit of a wait, unless you’re already in the beta circle.