General Motors to Phase Out Apple CarPlay Starting This Year in EV Transition

[msackey]

CarPlay that good eh? Interesting responses from those who say they will not buy a car without CarPlay. Hmm. I guess this is one area that I'm not that digitally invested. As long as my car can accept bluetooth connection to the iPhone to play through audio, and allows me to rewind, fast forward, and play/pause, the iPhone remotely, I'm good. My Ford Fiesta allows for all of that without any fancy CarPlay

 

[Insidious]

This thread is getting a lot of action! I've never owned a car with any smart software, I just connect my iPhone to bluetooth audio. I'm really surprised to see so many people refuse to buy a car without CarPlay, but I guess I don't know what I'm missing out on. 😅

 

[gaximus]

Exactly my case. When I bought my Teslas they were so far ahead of anyone else in everything else it far outweighed them not having CarPlay. It turned out Tesla's system is pretty darn good (and way better than any system I had in my previous vehicles). I highly doubt though I'll look at any other vehicle that isn't a Tesla or doesn't have CarPlay again though.

Tesla also has a history of updating their infotainment system quite often, and will most likely continue to do that. All other companies, have been known for never updating, most don’t even have the ability. newer companies like Rivian might, but have no history of doing so,they probably will.

 

[bommai]

If I ever needed more reason to not buy GM and stick with Honda.... I have it now.

I think Honda and GM are in deep partnership.

Honda and GM Deepen Ties, Promise 'New Series' of Affordable EVs

The two automakers will co-develop compact-crossover models that will arrive in 2027 and could have new solid-state battery technology.

www.caranddriver.com

 

[NT1440]

Tesla also has a history of updating their infotainment system quite often, and will most likely continue to do that. All other companies, have been known for never updating, most don’t even have the ability. newer companies like Rivian might, but have no history of doing so,they probably will.

I’m shocked that my dad has been asking me for a flash drive so he can update my mom’s 2020 Subaru’s “iPad” (what she calls the center council screen).

 

[FaustsHausUK]

Ignoring platform preference and all of that, many people will drive a car until it's completely donezo before buying a new one. Unless the entertainment system can receive OTA software updates and have its hardware upgraded after market, it's going to get long in the tooth quickly. Phones are much easier to upgrade, software and hardware; more likely to evolve with communications standards. CarPlay and Android Auto make much more sense to me.

 

[jwdsail]

Phone dorks don't understand the auto industry.

Sigh.....

Here's the thing...

I grew up around cars and knew and worked with people in the auto industry...

I frequently wrench on cars.. never tackled a big project like an engine rebuild or an EV conversion, but my friends and I did swap a motor in a Miata in one day a few years ago...

I also compete in SCCA events.

I'm also a certified in-car couch for a teen driving clinic.

I've also worked in the tech field in one way or another for well over 20 years.

So, I think that I have a well rounded point of view on the situation at hand.

And, this move by GM, an auto manufacturer I've actually had a lot of good luck with over the years, is anti-consumer, anti-privacy, anti-choice..

It's pure and unadulterated bull-butter.

It will likely cost GM sales.

That's a *good* thing.

And, yes, BMW is doing it, other auto manufacturers are drooling at the prospect of gathering and selling even more of our data...

None of us, regardless of our tech or automotive backgrounds, are obligated to *tolerate* it.

We're consumers with the power of our wallets (and feet) no matter if we're buying from Apple, Google, GM, BMW ... Doesn't matter.

What does matter, as we've seen with BMW, is when we see something that's this ridiculous, that we let them know loudly that our response to it is, "Go Frak yourselves!"

Yes, I include Apple in that, I refused to buy a laptop long after my old one was past its prime because I refused to give them my money for a laptop with a crappy KB. And, yes, I told them so, repeatedly.

This isn't complicated.

"Phone dorks" don't need to change their reactions to this sort of behavior, no one does.

GM needs to remember that we're their *customers*, not their products to sell others, otherwise, they'll lose us as customers.

The louder people tell them that via phone, tweet, or even good old fashioned postal mail, the *better*!!!


This is where on a long reply I'd normally paste the Apple feedback URL, but these will be more appropriate and useful today -

Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33170
Detroit, MI 48323-5136

GMC Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33172
Detroit, MI 48232-5172

Cadillac Customer Assistance Center
P. O. Box 33169
Detroit, MI 48232-5169

Buick Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33172
Detroit, MI 48232-5172

 

[uiop.]

I've had four Teslas and in each one, I wished it had CarPlay. So I finally got a car with CarPlay last year and can't imagine going back.

Good luck GM!

 

[jwdsail]

Looks like I can move on from buying a Corvette

Well, at least until the C8/C9(?) goes full EV, CarPlay should probably remain an option ;-)

The hybrid C8 is a heavy freakin car.. .. a little shocked that they were unable to find ways to reduce the weight in a high performance hybrid...

 

[BarredOwl]

Have to say lack of CarPlay is dealbreaker for me when car shopping... I hope GM appreciates what they are doing. Shows you how much these companies want to collect data on us.

Needs repeating. No CarPlay, no sale.

 

[kurtryan]

Well, that's one more vehicle brand I can take out of my consideration set. I've tried to coexist with these homegrown "premium" infotainment systems that the car makers force upon us – and they all suck.

Why would I want to stick with a slow, buggy, unintuitive system when CarPlay is intuitive and tightly integrated with the rest of the devices I use every day? Oh yeah, it's so they can charge us more for subscription features.

I can't wait for the day I have to pay a monthly subscription fee to enable the turn signal "feature" of my car.

 

[jwdsail]

CarPlay that good eh? Interesting responses from those who say they will not buy a car without CarPlay. Hmm. I guess this is one area that I'm not that digitally invested. As long as my car can accept bluetooth connection to the iPhone to play through audio, and allows me to rewind, fast forward, and play/pause, the iPhone remotely, I'm good. My Ford Fiesta allows for all of that without any fancy CarPlay

Push comes to shove, I don't want any touchscreen infotainment at all? Especially in an EV, where that extra weight (components and wiring) is going to compromise range.

Lightweight and simple to use/and service buttons, switches, and dials please.

But, If I'm already compromising and paying for thousands of dollars of crap I don't want in the first damn place, it damn well better work with the tech of my choice, and give me more privacy options than it sounds like this move will?

Let's all stop oversimplifying this as being just about the CarPlay stuff? This is a huge privacy and choice issue?

Hopefully the response is loud enough to get the entire auto industry attention.

 

[Radeon85]

What a stupid move, been using carplay for so many years it's a must have item in any car that I drive, personal and rentals and I bet that's the same for a lot of people if they've used it for a long time.

They are going to lose a lot of customers of this ridiculous move.

 

[Velli]

Keep in mind people, and plenty of Apple and Google engineers bought Teslas and Rivians despite them having no CarPlay.

Maybe it's not as important as people think? If you put together a decent system to let me listen to music or navigate, I can somewhat be placated. With that said most car infotainment systems looked like absolute ass in the 2000s/2010s. The Toyota one even in 202x cars is still an eyesore from a 10+ year old system that looks and functions like crap.

All that means is, if you have something unique to sell to people, people will grumpily accept not having Airplay. If you have a boring run-of-the-mill product, not even having Airplay becomes a dealbreaker. People would still buy Teslas even if it didn’t have heated seats. Heck, people buy them even if they don’t have a steering wheel.

 

[BorderingOn]

Really? Honda is doing the exact same thing. You can't get CarPlay on the new 2023 Accord.

Not true, at least in the US.

2025 Honda Accord - Honda's Midsized Sedan

Discover the 2025 Honda Accord, with sleek styling, spirited performance, and an available 204-hp hybrid powertrain.

automobiles.honda.com

 

[MacFan782040]

What!!!!? I’m literately shocked at this decision.

 

[Velli]

CarPlay that good eh? Interesting responses from those who say they will not buy a car without CarPlay. Hmm. I guess this is one area that I'm not that digitally invested. As long as my car can accept bluetooth connection to the iPhone to play through audio, and allows me to rewind, fast forward, and play/pause, the iPhone remotely, I'm good. My Ford Fiesta allows for all of that without any fancy CarPlay

I use two cars interchangeably. I listen to podcasts and audiobooks while driving. Either controlling that directly on the phone, or having the playback not be synced between cars suxx. Having the same interface regardless of which car I’m driving tomorrow makes a huge difference to me.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Keep in mind people, and plenty of Apple and Google engineers bought Teslas and Rivians despite them having no CarPlay.

Maybe it's not as important as people think? If you put together a decent system to let me listen to music or navigate, I can somewhat be placated. With that said most car infotainment systems looked like absolute ass in the 2000s/2010s. The Toyota one even in 202x cars is still an eyesore from a 10+ year old system that looks and functions like crap.

Toyota has a decent infotainment now, with the new UI, even has built in Apple Music, though Toyota does offer CarPlay still as an option. Tesla has built in Apple Music, which for me, the point of CarPlay is moot now. I am unsure about Rivian, but I doubt it because of the whole Amazon thing, but I guess one could always use Bluetooth.

That being said, no, I do not consider CarPlay an absolute must, and in a lot of cases I do disable it because the UI is too jarring from the rest of the car. Consider me the minority though.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Certainly its CarPlay and not the regurgitated designs across 90 different brands is the reason people would not buy a GM, rofl.

CarPlay is just another reason to stay far far away from GM. One of many reasons.

 

[Premium1]

Yeah, lets get more of the ****** car company's software in there. I am sure it will be free (lolz) and get lots of updates (double lolz). This is nothing more than a way for them to try and add another subscription. Just one more reason to avoid GM when it is time to buy another car.

 

[dontwalkhand]

I get why they do this.
Just like I get why Facebook attempted to make a phone in the early 2010s.

Control and sweet sweet subscription revenue.

It’s kinda expected that they would kick and scream while tech giants gradually invade their cars (this WWDC we’ll probably hear more about the 2.0 Carplay experience, which even entails Apple taking control of A/C and windows).

I would do the same in their shoes, kick and scream while they drag me away.

Doesn’t mean it will work out well for them. If cars start to be perceived as “smartphones on wheels”, people may want to stick to the established software companies they know and love.

The thing is, nobody wants a Facebook phone. And I take it nobody wants a Facebook car either.

Though I think this sets kind of a scary precedent. Once other auto manufacturers see this they may decide to pull CarPlay support as well. The banks are also already getting sick of Apple Pay, and may decide to pull out of that too. And one by one the domino falls,....I don't like where this is headed.

 

[HylianKnight]

Keep in mind people, and plenty of Apple and Google engineers bought Teslas and Rivians despite them having no CarPlay.

Maybe it's not as important as people think? If you put together a decent system to let me listen to music or navigate, I can somewhat be placated. With that said most car infotainment systems looked like absolute ass in the 2000s/2010s. The Toyota one even in 202x cars is still an eyesore from a 10+ year old system that looks and functions like crap.

It’s not just about CarPlay. Many car companies plan on rolling out subscription based services or “upgrades” to their future cars. It’s honestly disgusting.

 

[HylianKnight]

I look forward to the inevitable court battles between people that will “pirate” the “upgrades” on the vehicles they paid for and the car companies play out. Really hope this kind of crap bites the car companies trying it right in the ass

 

[fatTribble]

I just say no to Google.

By the Transitive Property I’ll just say no to GM.

 

[NT1440]

I look forward to the inevitable court battles between people that will “pirate” the “upgrades” on the vehicles they paid for and the car companies play out. Really hope this kind of crap bites the car companies trying it right in the ass

The thing that really irks me is that the “subscription for features” paradigm is a one way street. First you normalize it for luxury add-ons, then 5 years down the road it’s normalized for basic features from day one.

Because that’s a potential revenue stream, it WILL happen. The laws of quarter to quarter economic growth requires it at the end of the day.