General Motors plans to phase out its widely used Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technologies that allow drivers to bypass a vehicle’s infotainment system in favor of a built-in infotainment system developed by Google for future electric vehicles.
The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems allow users to mirror their smartphone screen onto their vehicle’s dashboard display.
General Motors’ decision to stop offering these systems in future electric vehicles, starting with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer, could help the automaker capture more data on how consumers drive and charge electric vehicles.
General Motors is working with Alphabet’s Google to design in-car navigation and infotainment systems for future electric vehicles.
The decision to phase out CarPlay smartphone projection technology is a setback for Apple in its battle with Google for more market share in North American car dashboards. General Motors’ Chevrolet brand has boasted in the past that it offers more models with CarPlay or Android Auto than any other brand.
GM has been working with Google since 2019 to develop the software foundation for an infotainment system that will be more tightly integrated with other vehicle systems such as GM’s Super Cruise driver assistant. The automaker is accelerating its strategy of becoming a digital subscription service platform for its electric vehicles.
General Motors aims to phase out production of new combustion light-duty vehicles by 2035.
GM’s chief digital officer, Edward Kummer, and executive director of digital cockpit experience, Mike Himche, said in an interview that GM would benefit from focusing its engineers and investments on an approach that more closely links in-car infotainment and navigation with features such as assisted driving.
“We are about to launch a number of new driver assistance features that are more closely integrated with navigation,” Himche told Reuters. “We don’t want to design these features in a way that relies on people having a phone.”
GM said buyers of GM electric vehicles equipped with the new system will have free access to Google Maps and the voice-command system Google Assistant for eight years. GM said future infotainment systems will offer the Spotify music service, apps like Audible and other services that many drivers now access via smartphones.
General Motors plans to continue offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mirroring systems in its combustion models. GM said owners of vehicles equipped with mirror technology can still use the system.
GM said drivers can still use Bluetooth wireless connectivity to listen to music or make calls on their iPhone or Android smartphone.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
