TL;DR
- Future General Motors EV will no longer offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will continue to be offered on GM’s combustion cars.
The largest automaker in the US, General Motors (GM), is considering the future of its electric vehicles (EV). And it doesn’t look like Apple CarPlay either Android Auto will play a role in that future.
As reported by ReutersGM plans to discontinue support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its future EVs. Instead, the automaker designs on-board navigation and infotainment systems with the help of Google. This change is expected to come into effect with the launch of the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer.
If you’re not familiar with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, these are systems that mirror the driver’s smartphone screen. Both systems do this by bypassing the vehicle’s infotainment system. GM wants to create a new built-in infotainment system that drivers will use. It’s possible that this could help GM gather more data on how people drive and charge EVs.
GM’s Chevrolet brand once claimed to offer more models with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto than any other brand. As a result, this is a major blow to Apple in its competition with Google to appear on as many US dashboard screens as possible.
While this is a new announcement, it’s not the start of GM’s partnership with Google. According to the outlet, the two companies have been working together since 2019. This partnership was created to “develop the software foundation for infotainment systems that will integrate more closely with other vehicle systems, such as GM’s Super Cruise driver assist.”
According to GM, buyers of the company’s new EVs will get free access to Google Maps and Google Assistant for eight years. The cars also offer apps like Spotify, Audible and more.
For drivers who still want to use their phones with their cars, GM plans to still include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its Combustion models. However, the carmaker aims to phase out the production of light combustion engine vehicles by 2035. In addition, future EV drivers will still be able to listen to music or make calls with their smartphones by connecting to Bluetooth.