I have a 2025 Sportline Edition, which is fitted with the Columbus infotainment system.  I use Apple Carplay so I leave the Columbus permanently on, so that it comes on when I start the ignition.  If I don’t want to listen to the radio or any media, I mute the sound using the knob on the steering wheel.  Quite often but by no means always, after leaving the car with the sound muted, the next time I turn on the ignition, the sound is unmuted.  It’s completely unpredictable and somewhat annoying.  Has anyone else experienced this, or found a fix?

I'm way out of touch with Apple products but check for a setting that automatically resumes playback on headphone connection, Maybe in sending a "play" command it also unmutes?

Thanks for the suggestion, but there's no such setting.