Crunchyroll is heading into cars. The anime streaming service has partnered with Appning by FORVIA to make its library available in select vehicles, starting with BMW and MINI models. The collaboration will eventually expand across the broader BMW Group lineup and more than 40 additional automotive brands.
The integration covers a wide geographic footprint that includes North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, India, and Australia. FORVIA’s Appning platform handles distribution of apps into vehicle infotainment systems, giving automakers a way to offer streaming services without building every partnership from scratch.
Safety rules will limit when the service can actually be used. Following the same technical guidelines applied to other video apps on the platform, such as YouTube, video playback will be disabled while the vehicle is in motion. Full access is available only when the car is parked. The system is designed to prevent distracting content, including video and pop-ups, from appearing in the front seat during driving.
The move reflects a broader trend of entertainment services moving beyond phones, TVs, and living-room devices into vehicles. As cars gain larger, higher-resolution screens and more robust connectivity, automakers and streaming companies have begun treating the cabin as another place where people spend time with long-form content. For Crunchyroll, the partnership creates a new way for subscribers to access anime during road trips, waiting periods, or other times when a vehicle is stationary.
Launching first with BMW and MINI gives the service a relatively premium entry point. Both brands already emphasize digital features and connected services in their newer models. Expanding later to the rest of the BMW Group and a larger roster of manufacturers should significantly increase the number of compatible vehicles over time. FORVIA’s role as a supplier to many global automakers is what makes that wider rollout feasible.
Crunchyroll has spent the past several years consolidating its position as the leading dedicated anime streaming platform in the West. After Sony’s acquisition of the service and the integration of Funimation’s catalog and operations, the platform now carries a large share of current simulcasts alongside an extensive back catalog. Adding in-car availability does not change the core subscription offering, but it does extend the places where those subscriptions can be used.
The company has also adjusted its pricing in major markets in recent years. In the United States, subscription tiers saw increases in early 2026, with the Fan, Mega Fan, and Ultimate Fan plans all moving to higher monthly rates. Those changes were presented as supporting continued investment in content and service improvements. The automotive partnership represents a different kind of expansion, one focused on distribution rather than catalog size or pricing.
For drivers and passengers, the practical experience will depend on the specific vehicle’s infotainment system and the way Appning surfaces the Crunchyroll app. In most cases, users should expect to log in with an existing Crunchyroll account and browse the library in a format adapted for the car’s screen. Because video is restricted to parked use, the feature is more likely to be used during breaks, charging stops, or while waiting than during active driving.
The partnership also highlights how specialized streaming services are following the path already taken by broader platforms. Music services, general video apps, and podcast players have been available in cars for years. Anime, with its dedicated audience and long episode run times, fits naturally into situations where people are stationary for extended periods. Making the service available in vehicles removes one more barrier between subscribers and the content they already pay for.
No exact launch timing beyond the initial BMW and MINI rollout was detailed in the announcement, nor was a full list of the additional 40-plus brands that will follow. Those details will likely emerge as the integration moves from the first vehicles into wider availability. What is clear is the direction: Crunchyroll is treating in-car streaming as a meaningful new surface for its service, and FORVIA’s platform is providing the technical route to reach multiple automakers at once.
As more vehicles ship with larger screens and always-on connectivity, the number of places where a Crunchyroll subscription can be used will continue to grow. The Appning partnership marks the first major step into the automotive space for the service, beginning with BMW and MINI and built to expand from there. For subscribers who already watch anime on phones, tablets, and televisions, the car is about to become another supported device, provided the vehicle is parked and the local market is covered by the rollout.