GM to Phase Out Apple CarPlay, Android Auto in Future EVs
Now widely spread across the auto industry, could Apple CarPlay and Android Auto already be on the way out? When it comes to General Motors, the answer is yes.
Reuters reported on Friday that GM plans to phase out both technologies in future electric vehicles.
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The process will start with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV, which is set to launch this summer. The automaker wants to use a next-generation infotainment and navigation system developed with Google in order to capture more data on how consumers drive and charge their EVs.
Google Maps and the Google Assistant will be a central part of the system, along with many available popular apps such as Spotify and Audible.
Mike Himche, executive director of digital cockpit experience at GM, also brought a good point in a interview with Reuters.
"We have a lot of new driver assistance features coming that are more tightly coupled with navigation,” he said. “We don’t want to design these features in a way that are dependent on a person having a cellphone."
GM and Google have been working together since 2019 to lay out the software foundations for infotainment systems that will be more tightly integrated with other vehicle systems. GM's Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving technology is a good example.
By 2026, these systems will be combined with a large array of digital subscription services, a gamble that GM is taking despite most consumers being reluctant to pay monthly or annual fees for in-car extras.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will continue to be offered in conventionally powered models (but definitely not beyond 2035, which is the year when GM plans to have an all-electric portfolio). Those who already own a GM EV, including the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac LYRIQ, will still be able to use the systems, the company said.