General Motors’ electric future doesn’t include Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
The automaker’s upcoming lineup of electric vehicles won’t support popular smartphone projection systems in favor of a native Google infotainment system. The movement, first reported by Reutersmeans owners cannot project their phone’s screen onto their vehicle’s dashboard infotainment screen.
The decision is intended to provide “seamless access” to the new Google-powered infotainment experience, including native versions of Google Maps, Google Assistant, Audible, Spotify and more, GM says in a fact sheet explaining the new strategy.
“As a result of this strategic approach, we are moving beyond phone projection systems, namely Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.”
“As a result of this strategic approach, we are moving beyond phone projection systems, namely Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,” the company added.
GM’s move to restrict access to CarPlay and Android Auto, which is expected to begin with the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV, will help the automaker capture more data about its customers’ driving, listening and charging habits. It could also help inform future subscription products as automakers across the board look to generate more revenue than just selling cars.
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GM emphasized that the decision was primarily driven by improving the navigation and charging experience for future EV owners. For example, when an electric car owner drives to a charging station, the vehicle’s own software can start warming up the battery so it’s ready for faster charging.
“This would maximize range and minimize the time a customer is at a charging station,” Kelly Cusinato, who leads communications for GM’s digital business, said in an email. “The vehicle can know more than the phone.”
It can also help inform future subscription products
The decision to restrict Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is a reversal of GM’s position several years ago, when the automaker first announced its deal with Google to integrate the tech company’s apps into its fleet. Before that news, we asked if customers could still expect to mirror their smartphone to their vehicle’s screen if they wanted to, and GM said they would.
But Cusinato warned that current GM vehicles with Google built-in, including the GMC Hummer EV, Cadillac Lyriq and a host of gas-powered vehicles, would not lose access to CarPlay and Android Auto. “This is all about creating a better, more integrated experience for future EV customers that will give them everything they need and more over time,” she said.
GM, owner of brands such as Cadillac, Chevy, GMC and Buick, is not closing access to CarPlay and Android Auto completely. Car owners can still connect their phones to their vehicles via Bluetooth for hands-free calling, voice messaging and music streaming. And GM’s gas-powered vehicles will continue to allow the use of CarPlay and Android Auto.
Google has struck deals with major automakers over the years to run its own infotainment software. The tech giant offers two products: Google built-in, when a car has apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps and the Google Play Store integrated directly into the vehicle; and Android Automotive OS, in which a car’s entire infotainment system runs on Android. Honda uses Google built-in, while Volvo and Polestar have opted for Android Automotive. Some car manufacturers use both.
