When General Motors announced earlier in 2023 that it was phasing out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with its latest EVs, it was met with some confusion; why would GM go out of their way to dissolve popular features and hinder the level of phone-to-car interconnectivity that auto brands have been building towards?
Now the company has given further details about their decision, which boils down to one key factor: safety. And as we know, when it comes to your safety, GM is not one to take any risks.
Today, Northpointe Automotive examines the reasons behind GM’s decision and what alternative system awaits the Chevy Blazer and other EVs.
CarPlay and Auto: A Brief History
Apple CarPlay was released almost a full decade ago, in March of 2014. Its mission was to enable a car’s head unit or infotainment system to function as a display and controller for an iPhones’ iOS. Suddenly, a driver’s music, navigation systems, calls, and messages could be accessed seamlessly without taking your eyes off the road.
Android Auto debuted a year later, in March of 2015. Like its Apple counterpart, it sought to mimic phone features through vehicles’ head units and infotainment screens. Although Google initially prevented Android Auto from accessing third party mapping apps – only allowing its own apps, such as Google Maps and Waze – it relaxed these measures in 2020.
Put Down Your Phones!
So why choose to abandon these standards, especially considering that the vast majority of Americans use either an Apple or Samsung phone? After all, those two brands currently account for 83% of the total smartphone market share.
GM insists that their guiding motivating factor is safety. Tim Babbitt, GM’s head of product for infotainment, cited driver distraction caused by cell phone usage. Babbitt claims that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both suffer from stability issues, prompting drivers to take their eyes off the road and pick up their phones again when system connections are slow or unresponsive. With built-in systems, Babbitt argues, drivers will be less likely to fall back on their phones.
But the decision also factors in more than safety concerns. With company-made software, GM sees the opportunity to collect and monetize more driver data, deliver a more comprehensive user experience, and even warm up the EV battery before driving – all of which Apple and Samsung lack the full capability to do.
So… What’s Next?
It should be said that GM’s decision is not unprecedented, especially amongst EV manufacturers. Both Tesla and Rivian opt for their own system in place of CarPlay or Auto, and both have been successful.
GM hopes to follow this model with their “Ultifi” infotainment software, which features a suite of Google apps such as Google Assistant and Maps, as well as popular music apps like Spotify. In particular, Google Assistant has the potential to deliver a voice-controlled navigation assistant that is tied to every feature of your built-in system – including areas such as heating and cooling that CarPlay and Android Auto wouldn’t have full access to.
The guinea pig for this entire operation is the Chevy Blazer EV, the flagship vehicle of both the new built-in system and Chevy’s electric fleet as a whole. The Blazer EV is currently experiencing a temporary software-related sales stoppage, but hopefully once all is resolved, the Blazer will proceed to bring GM’s vision to fruition.
How Does That Sound?
It may take some time before we see if GM’s built-in system can reach its full potential, as we wait for Blazer sales to resume. In the meantime, use whatever navigation system is at your disposal to plot a course for Northpointe Automotive. Schedule a test drive in one of our new and pre-owned vehicles, from the sturdy Equinox to the Bolt EV, you’ll be sure to drive off our lot with a vehicle that’s music to your ears.
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