Got Apple CarPlay? This is the must-have accessory for you if you don’t have the wireless version

Twelve South Airfly Drive brings wireless functionality to cars with wired CarPlay. Now, this isn’t an accessory you can buy if you don’t have CarPlay or or Android Auto at all. Instead it makes an existing setup wireless with no app required.

You can also pair up to two phones at once, too, while it works with the screen, buttons, knobs, and steering-wheel controls you already use – a small button enables you to switch between the profiles. It will also be useful if you often use different vehicles such as hire cars or from a fleet or carpool. 

All you need to do is to plug this little $40/£40 dongle into the car’s USB port and CarPlay or Android Auto will start automatically every time the car does – there’s no re-pairing and it starts up quickly. It fits both USB-A and USB-C ports since a USB-A to USB-C adapter is included – it doesn’t work with vehicles that just have a 3.5mm adapter or aux port.

South Carolina-based Twelve South says that Airfly Drive works with “most vehicles” that have factory-wired CarPlay or Android Auto. That includes across more than 75 makes and model years back to 2014 and there’s a compatibility list for both CarPlay and Android Auto that’s available.

So you can leave the phone in your pocket, bag or cup holder, a pocket with no need to plug it in (unless you want to charge it!)

Twelve South has previously used Airfly as its brand for making wired headphones wireless on planes (especially for those planes with old three-pin jacks) and in gyms or older cars – as such it could be a little confusing that the Airfly Drive has a slightly different purpose. The latest version of the slightly older Bluetooth dongle is the Twelve South AirFly Pro and very good it is too.