In March 2023, US-based carmaker General Motors (GM) announced that it would be phasing out support for Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto infotainment system, in favor of a system the company developed in-house (with the help of Google).
At the time of the announcement, GM said it would continue to offer CarPlay in its fuel-powered vehicle, but now the company is planning to remove CarPlay and Android Auto across its entire vehicle lineup, including electric and gas-powered vehicles built by its GMC, Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac divisions.
GM CEO Mary Barra told The Verge said that while the company wanted to prioritize its home-grown infotainment platform for its electric vehicles, it will eventually expand the system across the company’s entire lineup.
A lot of it depends on when you do an update to that vehicle. When you look at the fact that we have over 40 models across our portfolio, you don’t just do this and they all update. As we move forward with each new vehicle and major new vehicle launch, I think you’re going to see us consistent on that. We made a decision to prioritize our EV vehicles during this timeframe, and as we go forward, we’ll continue across the portfolio.
While GM pushes the move as giving it total control over its vehicle’s systems, allowing it to optimize the systems, the move also allows GM to offer subscriptions to some infotainment features, many of which are offered for free by CarPlay and Android Auto. When a corporate entity makes a move, its is almost always about additional revenue.
WHile GM has assured vehicle buyers that they’ll maintain a basic level of access to feature for eight years at no additional cost, it could lead to drivers paying extra for access to services they already pay for, like Spotify or even Apple Music.
GM Chief Product Officer Sterling Anderson offered the ridiculous comment that GM’s decision was a “very Jobsian approach to things.”
But frankly, it’s a very Jobsian approach to things. The removal of the disk drive, nobody liked that, everybody on the forums and Facebook was complaining about it, but to that he said, “Look, guys, flash storage really is the future. Get on board, you’ll see that.” That’s kind of what we’re saying here, in fact that’s exactly what we’re saying.
Anderson says GM’s option offers a “much more immersive environment” and provides the ability “do so many more things” than CarPlay or Android Auto.
GM will begin rolling out its new centralized vehicle computing system that will share software across its entire vehicle platform in the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ.
