- GM began phasing out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on some vehicles in 2023
- GM’s software boss said the automaker wants more control over the vehicle’s user interface
- The next generation of Apple CarPlay gets even more control over the user interface
Anyone who is a frequent user of Apple CarPlay knows the inconvenience of having to exit the CarPlay interface to adjust certain vehicle functions, then switch back once you want to use apps on your connected iPhone again.
The lack of seamlessness is one of the reasons why General Motors decided to do this last year ditch both CarPlay and the similar Android Auto smartphone mirror system on the latest electric vehicles in favor of a proprietary system with built-in Google.
GM also said it made this decision due to safety concerns. Drivers can start using their own phone behind the wheel if they notice that CarPlay or Android Auto is cutting out or running slowly, which happens often.
More than a year after GM made the decision to ditch the systems, Baris Cetinok, GM’s head of software for the automaker’s entire lineup of vehicles, revealed in an interview on The Verge’s Decoder podcast published Monday that GM is still happy with the decision.
2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV
Cetinok, who previously worked at Apple and not GM when the decision was made, said another key reason for choosing an in-house system is that it gives the automaker more control over the user experience and allows new features to be introduced. faster, especially if these functions are not related to functions on the phone, for example specific car-related functions. This is one of the main reasons why EV startup Rivian is also taking the trouble to develop its own software systems.
Even with the problems of CarPlay and Android Auto, the popularity of both smartphone mirror systems continues to grow, with some buyers even purchasing their car based on the availability of one of the systems. In a 2022 interview with CNBC, Apple engineering manager Emily Schubert said that 79% of U.S. buyers would only buy a vehicle if it supports CarPlay.
And now Apple is looking to gain even more control over the vehicle with its next-generation CarPlay system, which the company previewed in June. The new system will extend from the infotainment screen to the digital instrument cluster and all other screens on the dashboard, as the manufacturer allows. There will also be apps that allow users to control various vehicle functions, meaning there will no longer be the need to arm and disarm the system.