Apple Says CarPlay Now Available in Over 800 Vehicle Models as GM Plans to Phase Out Support in EVs

[MacRumors]

CarPlay is now available in more than 800 vehicle models sold in the U.S., according to a recently updated page on Apple's website. Until last week, the page said the in-car software platform was available in more than 600 vehicle models. Apple added many 2023 and 2024 vehicle models to the list as part of the update.

The updated figure comes after GM announced that it plans to phase out CarPlay in future electric vehicles in favor of its own in-car software platform, developed in partnership with Google. The decision led to backlash from some customers given the immense popularity of CarPlay, but GM doubled down on the plans in an interview with The Verge last week, saying it is building a "holistically integrated" operating system with a "much-improved navigation and charging experience for future EV owners."

At WWDC last year, Apple stated that 79% of U.S. buyers would only consider a vehicle that works with CarPlay, and said the platform is available in 98% of vehicles sold in the country. "It's a must-have feature when shopping for a new vehicle," touted Apple.

Apple plans to introduce the next generation of CarPlay later this year, promising support for multiple displays across the dashboard, instrument cluster integration, built-in climate controls, an FM radio app, widgets, increased personalization, and more. Apple said the first vehicles with support for the new CarPlay experience will be announced later this year, with over a dozen automakers committed to offering it.

In related news, code on Apple's servers suggests that British automaker Lotus is planning to support Apple's digital car key feature in the Wallet app, which would allow future vehicles to be unlocked, locked, and started with an iPhone or Apple Watch.

Article Link: Apple Says CarPlay Now Available in Over 800 Vehicle Models as GM Plans to Phase Out Support in EVs

 

[moabal]

GM can get bent. This will backfire on them greatly if they stick to their plans.

 

[centauratlas]

I still don't see how GM thinks this is a good move. Everyone we know who has CarPlay in the car loves it. GM is shooting themselves in the foot. I wouldn't buy a car without it - unless there were no other options.

 

[callison]

GM interiors always feel cheap to me. It would be on-brand for them to remove this premium experience for proprietary bloatware.

 

[metalsiren]

agreed, I just want the wireless version for my car model and make its the 2023 model so I will have to get it later on

 

[macsplusmacs]

American car buyers have been phasing out GM for a while.

That's it.

That's the tweet.

 

[TheSuperE]

Yep no GM for us and we just started car shopping. I’ll just cross them off the list now. And we already know we will need another in a few years. Made it easier at least on selection.

 

[jz0309]

It’ll backfire on GM… not a smart move

 

[ELman]

That's okay. I phased out GM vehicles years ago. Everyone I have owned had nothing but troubles.

 

[spazzcat]

agreed, I just want the wireless version for my car model and make its the 2023 model so I will have to get it later on

I just made mine wireless with an adapter.

 

[Phogro]

How long until Apple starts complaining they want 3rd party access to car manufacturer entertainment software? How the turns have been tabled.

Edit... guess the /s wasn't as implied as I thought. 😂

 

[coffeemilktea]

GM doubled down on the plans in an interview with The Verge last week, saying it is building a "holistically integrated" operating system with a "much-improved navigation and charging experience for future EV owners."

Who knows, maybe GM really will build a software platform that's superior to CarPlay. Maybe pigs will also fly.

In the meanwhile though, is GM doing so well with EV sales that they can afford to alienate people who really like CarPlay? Somehow, I doubt it. 🤡

 

[mcilwraith]

no problem. would never buy a GM car anyway. based on previous experience (and horrendous reliability).

 

[centauratlas]

How long until Apple starts complaining they want 3rd party access to car manufacturer entertainment software? How the turns have been tabled.

It seems unlikely, the market will force GM to change their option either by having it as an option or bankruptcy.

 

[GMShadow]

I still don't see how GM thinks this is a good move. Everyone we know who has CarPlay in the car loves it. GM is shooting themselves in the foot. I wouldn't buy a car without it - unless there were no other options.

Because they want to make their solution a subscription, just like how they’ve been tacking on more charges for OnStar recently.

 

[moabal]

How long until Apple starts complaining they want 3rd party access to car manufacturer entertainment software? How the turns have been tabled.

Fair but the difference is Apple's experience is better full stop so it is not comparing apples to apples.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Such a bad and dumb move. This will effect them badly and they will be selling less cars around the market.

 

[nburwell]

GM will ultimately learn this is the wrong move.

My wife and I leased new cars last year and both wanted CarPlay in our respective vehicles. We would not consider a vehicle that does not have the feature (granted this has been the case in the previous cars we have leased).

 

[RodThePlod]

I love the wireless CarPlay in my car. I wonder if us 'regular' CarPlay users will get an upgraded experience when the next gen CarPlay is introduced later this year?

Obviously I'm not expecting the next-gen features such as climate controls, etc. but it would be nice if we had a bit of a upgrade - maybe even basic widgets, etc. 🤞

 

[MVPilot172]

I have to believe that close to 90% of people buying expensive EV’s in the US are also using iPhones. They must be getting an awfully big check from Google to be doing this.

 

[torontotim]

My 2015 GMC Canyon doesn't have CarPlay and I don't really miss it. I've driven/rented loads of cars with it, connected my phone etc. and it's nice to have, but I have my iPhone on a dash mount and frankly am not limited by the CarPlay UI.

It's certainly not a must-have and if you're daft enough to base the purchase of a vehicle on whether or not it has CarPlay, well I guess you can just be daft. It's about the least important factor when making a vehicle decision.

 

[callison]

My 2015 GMC Canyon doesn't have CarPlay and I don't really miss it. I've driven/rented loads of cars with it, connected my phone etc. and it's nice to have, but I have my iPhone on a dash mount and frankly am not limited by the CarPlay UI.

It's certainly not a must-have and if you're daft enough to base the purchase of a vehicle on whether or not it has CarPlay, well I guess you can just be daft. It's about the least important factor when making a vehicle decision.

I certainly get this view. This topic comes up a decent amount in my friend group and I've heard from at least a dozen people they won't by a car without CarPlay. Multiple people from that same group have passed on a Tesla because of the UI.

While I do think you're right that it won't be their death knell, I do believe that what will make people "choose sides" is the increasing pressure from insurance companies to have access to what you're doing in the car and your driving behaviors - OBD dongles, phone apps to monitor use, etc. If people begin to have a much larger premium for not using the infotainment system that will change sentiment very quickly.

 

[UltimateSyn]

I wouldn’t buy a vehicle without wireless CarPlay. Excited to see what the ‘next generation’ CarPlay system ends up looking like.

 

[twolf2919]

I have to believe that close to 90% of people buying expensive EV’s in the US are also using iPhones. They must be getting an awfully big check from Google to be doing this.

That may be the case, but that hasn't prevented Tesla from not including CarPlay in its cars. But, unfortunately for GM, GM is not Tesla when it comes to EV market dominance and can ill afford such stunts.

 

[chronos1919]

My 2015 GMC Canyon doesn't have CarPlay and I don't really miss it. I've driven/rented loads of cars with it, connected my phone etc. and it's nice to have, but I have my iPhone on a dash mount and frankly am not limited by the CarPlay UI.

It's certainly not a must-have and if you're daft enough to base the purchase of a vehicle on whether or not it has CarPlay, well I guess you can just be daft. It's about the least important factor when making a vehicle decision.

The least important part of the decision for you. No one is “daft” for having different priorities when purchasing a vehicle.