Twelve South has released the AirFly Drive, a compact adapter that converts a vehicle’s factory wired CarPlay connection into wireless CarPlay. The $39.99 accessory uses Wi-Fi to connect an iPhone to the car, removing the need to plug in a USB-C cable for each journey.

AirFly Drive is designed for vehicles that already support wired CarPlay. It connects through the vehicle’s USB data port and is intended to remain plugged in, allowing wireless CarPlay to start whenever the vehicle is turned on.

How AirFly Drive works

The accessory establishes a wireless connection between the iPhone and the vehicle’s existing CarPlay system. Twelve South says users only need to pair an iPhone with AirFly Drive once. After that, the device is designed to reconnect automatically when the vehicle starts.

No companion app, user account, or separate charging is required. The AirFly Drive is built as a small aluminum cube with a USB-A connector, while a USB-C adapter is included for vehicles with USB-C data ports.

Before completing the initial setup, users must remove the iPhone’s existing vehicle connection by selecting “Forget This Device” in the vehicle’s Bluetooth settings. This step allows AirFly Drive to handle the connection instead.

Support for two iPhones

A button on the adapter provides one-press switching between two paired iPhones. That feature could be useful in households where two drivers regularly share the same vehicle, although each phone must first be paired with the accessory.

Twelve South says AirFly Drive works with any iPhone running iOS 10 or later, provided the vehicle has factory support for wired CarPlay. It does not add CarPlay to vehicles that lack an existing CarPlay system.

Price and availability

AirFly Drive is available to order now in black or white for $39.99 in the United States. The product joins other wired-to-wireless CarPlay adapters already sold by various brands, but Twelve South is positioning its version as a dedicated accessory for Apple users.

Compatibility depends on the vehicle’s USB port and factory CarPlay implementation. Drivers should confirm that their vehicle supports wired CarPlay before purchasing the adapter.