General Motors plans to stop supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the new electric vehicles the automaker plans to launch in the coming years. In those electric vehicles that have already been released, as well as in gasoline and diesel vehicles, everything will remain the same.
“As we scale our electric vehicle business and launch the Ultifi software platform, we can offer more technology and vehicle updates over the air than ever before,” GM chief digital officer Edward Kummer was quoted as saying by ArsTechnica.
GM said it is phasing out projection phone apps to offer customers a more advanced and expanded integrated solution that enables Google Maps, Google Assistant, Audible, Spotify and other apps popular with drivers. And without being tied to a specific provider (Apple, Google or any other).
A GM decision memo clarifies that this promotional strategy will “reduce duplication of functions, continually innovate, add more features and applications, and manage the in-vehicle customer experience more holistically.”
And while this sounds like good news for users, experts are still baffled by the automaker’s decision. First, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are very popular.
Apple says that 79% of new car buyers insist on CarPlay. Independent surveys give different numbers, but half of drivers really want CarPlay or Android Auto functionality (2020 survey data).
Second, it’s strange for a premium automaker to deprive users of choice. Today’s potential customers are used to choosing which device with which software to use for in-car navigation and entertainment.
“Will this decision hurt Apple? Certainly. But it also damages GM’s reputation and possibly its profits,” the portal’s experts analyze the situation.
After all, the average person sees that “GM is killing CarPlay” and wonders if this is in line with their values and needs.
As bizarre as GM’s decision may seem to analysts, ArsTechnica recalls Toyota once saying it wants to cede in-car tech gear to developers of third-party apps like Apple CarPlay.
The automaker felt that losing this segment would be a big mistake. Later, however, the concern abandoned this idea. Now GM is trying to follow suit.
In early 2024, GM will still retain CarPlay and Android Auto, and GM’s first new EV without phone projection will be the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV.
Author:
Ekaterina Alipova
Source: RB
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
