General Motors’ electric future does not include Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
The automaker’s upcoming line of electric vehicles will not support popular smartphone projection systems in favor of a native Google infotainment system. The movement, first reported by Reutersmeans owners will not be able to project their phone screen onto their vehicle’s in-dash infotainment screen.
The decision is aimed at providing “continuous access” to the new infotainment experience powered by Google, 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 focus, we will go beyond phone projection systems, namely Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.”
“As a result of this strategic focus, we will go beyond phone projection systems, namely Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,” the company added.
GM’s move to restrict access to CarPlay and Android Auto, expected to start 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 in general look to generate more revenue beyond just selling cars.
GM emphasized that the decision was primarily motivated by improving the navigation and charging experience for future EV owners. For example, when an EV owner drives to a charging station, the vehicle’s native software can start heating up the battery so it’s ready for a faster charge.
“This would maximize reach and minimize the time a customer is at a charging station,” Kelly Cusinato, who heads digital business communications for GM, said in an email. “The vehicle can know more than the phone.”
It could 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. For that story, we asked if customers could still expect to mirror their smartphone to their vehicle’s display if they wanted, 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 other gas-powered vehicles, would not lose access to CarPlay and Android Auto. “This is about creating a better, more integrated experience for future EV customers that will give them everything they need and more, over time,” he said.
GM, which owns brands like Cadillac, Chevy, GMC and Buick, isn’t cutting off access to CarPlay and Android Auto entirely. Car owners will still be able to connect their phones to their vehicles via Bluetooth for hands-free calling, voice texting, and music streaming. And GM gasoline vehicles will continue to support CarPlay and Android Auto.
Google has been racking up deals with major automakers over the years to use their native infotainment software. The tech giant offers two products: Google Embedded, when a car has apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps and the Google Play Store built directly into the vehicle; and Android Automotive OS, in which a car’s entire infotainment system runs on Android. Honda uses integrated Google, while Volvo and Polestar have opted for Android Automotive. Some car manufacturers use both.
