GM Is Moving Away From Apple and Android Phone Projection

[Lunentucker]

More subscriptions and more control seem to be where it's all headed.
And the more integrated into the overall vehicle data stream the "radio" becomes, the less likely it is that aftermarket replacement units will be a thing.

___________________________

GM CEO Mary Barra says consumers should expect the full phase out of CarPlay and Android Auto over the next few years.

GM plans to drop support for phone projection on all new vehicles in the near future, and not just its electric car lineup, according to GM CEO Mary Barra.
In a Decoder interview with The Verge’s Nilay Patel, published Wednesday, Barra confirmed GM will eventually end support of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on both gas-powered and electric cars. The timing is unclear, but Barra pointed to a major rollout of what the company is calling a new centralized computing platform, set to launch in 2028, that will involve eventually transitioning its entire lineup to a unified in-car experience.

unified in-car experience.

In place of phone projection, GM is working to update its current Android-powered infotainment implementation with a Google Gemini-powered assistant and an assortment of other custom apps, built both in-house and with partners. GM’s 2023 decision to drop CarPlay and Android Auto support in its EVs has proved controversial, though for now GM has maintained support for phone projection in its gas-powered vehicles.
Here’s the full exchange with Barra:

Let me ask you the second part of that question again, because, again, we’re talking so much about the future, and I understand the argument about the future you’re making, but you still have the smartphone projection in the gas cars. Why is it still in the gas cars?
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.
So we should expect new gas cars will not have smartphone projection?
As we get to a major rollout, I think that’s the right expectation. Yes.

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[AmosMoses]

Subscription services, small displacement turbo engines in 3 ton vehicles, engine drivetrain with the reliability of oracle brake lights, are all things the consumer should not participate in. This is especially true for Jeep.

 

[Deleted member 57233]

This was actually the original idea behind car play and Android Auto. Instead of being powered by the phone, the apps are installed and ran on the head unit.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This was actually the original idea behind car play and Android Auto. Instead of being powered by the phone, the apps are installed and ran on the head unit.

Which may end up taking away choices - unless they run a platform in the head unit that allows people to run any app they choose for NAV or music, and not lock it down to either Apple or Android - otherwise we may choose a vehicle based on what can be done with the head unit, much like people choose phones.

 

[Master_Cylinder]

If the vehicle does not support my Apple devices, I will not purchase it. If no vehicle supports Apple, I’ll screw a CarPlay unit into the dash like I have now in my 2015 Subaru and my 2006 Durango.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If the vehicle does not support my Apple devices, I will not purchase it. If no vehicle supports Apple, I’ll screw a CarPlay unit into the dash like I have now in my 2015 Subaru and my 2006 Durango.

I'd say the same about android. If they don't support it - I'll buy one that does. I'm not going to change my apps and so on because of a car or truck. There are choices out there.

 

[hayduke-TX]

If the vehicle does not support my Apple devices, I will not purchase it. If no vehicle supports Apple, I’ll screw a CarPlay unit into the dash like I have now in my 2015 Subaru and my 2006 Durango.

I can see them blocking that somehow, similiar to the gateway security module BS.

 

[WILDHOBO]

If the vehicle does not support my Apple devices, I will not purchase it. If no vehicle supports Apple, I’ll screw a CarPlay unit into the dash like I have now in my 2015 Subaru and my 2006 Durango.

Volvo tried that with their Google platform in 2022. It lasted a whole year. They upgraded the cars over the air to add apple car play. I’m assuming android as well. People weren’t buying I would guess. Now they are again. Gm will learn that lesson as well. There are way more “apple people” and “android people” than gm people. Brand loyalty will follow the phone and walk from the car manufacturer.

 

[WILDHOBO]

More subscriptions and more control seem to be where it's all headed.
And the more integrated into the overall vehicle data stream the "radio" becomes, the less likely it is that aftermarket replacement units will be a thing.

___________________________

GM CEO Mary Barra says consumers should expect the full phase out of CarPlay and Android Auto over the next few years.

GM plans to drop support for phone projection on all new vehicles in the near future, and not just its electric car lineup, according to GM CEO Mary Barra.
In a Decoder interview with The Verge’s Nilay Patel, published Wednesday, Barra confirmed GM will eventually end support of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on both gas-powered and electric cars. The timing is unclear, but Barra pointed to a major rollout of what the company is calling a new centralized computing platform, set to launch in 2028, that will involve eventually transitioning its entire lineup to a unified in-car experience.

unified in-car experience.

In place of phone projection, GM is working to update its current Android-powered infotainment implementation with a Google Gemini-powered assistant and an assortment of other custom apps, built both in-house and with partners. GM’s 2023 decision to drop CarPlay and Android Auto support in its EVs has proved controversial, though for now GM has maintained support for phone projection in its gas-powered vehicles.
Here’s the full exchange with Barra:

I’m not sure about the 2023 drop of apple car play from gm EVs. Our 2023 Bolt has apple car play. But maybe it was the decision in 23, and the roll out later.

 

[Deleted member 57233]

otherwise we may choose a vehicle based on what can be done with the head unit, much like people choose phones.

That was the original plan as well, and why Apple and Google were originally looking into branding their own cars.

 

[PlayfulBird]

Not all strategies pan out , we will see when people have enough...

 

[WILDHOBO]

Google assistant can’t assist with anything. It’s totally inept.

 

[Chaos Theory]

I can't speak for all of the brand GPS/operating systems, but I can tell you without question that Jeep and Ford versions are buggy, confused trainwrecks. I had heard this was coming and made the decision then and there to never buy a vehicle from a brand that forces me away from Android Auto.

Anything can be hacked, no matter how integrated it is now with modern vehicles. We will soon return to the days when people installed their own 'head unit' to replace the OEM garbage. A new industry of 3rd party console manufacturers will be born overnight. I actually look forward to seeing new options for the crap they're putting in cars these days.

 

[camss69]

I had the choice with my work fleet vehicle to go with a GM vehicle, or a VW. I took the VW literally because the GM didn’t have support for CarPlay. I will say the GM vehicle did have support for Android apps (not full android auto) so it did have Google Maps at least but I want full CarPlay. I think Apple made a mistake trying to take over the entire infotainment and vehicle displays with CarPlay Ultra, I could see how the manufacturers wouldn’t want that. Hopefully they meet in the middle.

 

[GeneralMaximus]

Aside from Tesla, none of the car manufacturers could ever get their infotainment user interface, right. Thats been the case before carplay and it will continue to be the case after. Good luck GM, keep putting out more garbage.

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