GM Again Attempts to Explain Its Decision to Drop CarPlay in New EVs

[wanha]

1. GM conveniently leaves out their intention to monetize customer data.

2. If they truly believed in the superiority of their own in-car entertainment solution, why not offer CarPlay & Android Auto alongside it and let the consumer choose?

(I suspect 1. is the answer to 2.)

 

[Starfia]

The endeavour to develop software for one's own hardware is, of course, Apple's own bedrock (as well as Nintendo's, and they're apparently still around too). So, all the power and luck to GM for embracing it.

But the real question isn't about their strength of conviction; it's whether GM can then produce something better than the alternative, both in their minds and their customers'.

 

[MacTwick]

Wait until the EU hears that GM is wanting to control the entire experience of their vehicles.

 

[snebes]

I just wish CarPlay would receive some updates. It’s had the same layout and colors since 2018, and it’s the most outdated product I’ve seen to date. Even with wallpapers, we don’t have the freedom to add new stuff, and we can’t even pinch to zoom on maps (or Waze, or any other app).

Does your car even have a multi-touch screen? That would be required for pinch to zoom to work...

 

[fivetoedbear]

I put a new radio with CarPlay into my 2013 Subaru Outback this summer. It was like getting a new car.

Also, switching between CarPlay and stuff built into the radio is pretty easy and seamless. Want to see the coolant temp? I mapped engine stats to long-press previous-track on the steering wheel (the adapter box is configurable). Done? The back arrow on the display gets me back to CarPlay. It's not rocket science. Similarly, it's easy to use the buttons on the radio to switch between apps on the radio, of which CarPlay is one. I can make audio or display adjustments by pushing a button, and they just pop up over CarPlay. It just works.

Plus I love that everything I have on my phone or set up before I went out to the car is already there when CarPlay connects. My route, the podcast I'm listening to, audiobook, music...I don't have to fumble with duplicated services in the car.

 

[Disgruntled_Scot]

I simply wouldn’t purchase a vehicle that didn’t support CarPlay. I’m sure others would agree and they aren’t tech nerds like us on here.

 

[imola.zhp]

Just buy the Honda version, Prologue, it has CarPlay.

 

[EBone12355]

"Their job is to be the voice of the customer inside the company. They listen to the customer, they listen to journalists, they listen to the zeitgeist, they do research themselves, read research, and develop a thesis and, eventually, a hypothesis around, “Wouldn’t it be great, wouldn’t it be cool, wouldn’t it be amazingly interesting to do X?” That’s the what and why part; that’s what product managers do."

All they are thinking is "Wouldn't it be cool if we could charge a subscription for everything the buyer does in their vehicle?"

 

[skiguy45]

Another weak justification from a car maker for why they refuse to make the center of my digital life a first class citizen in my car.

I use features like trailer assist, maybe, a couple times a year, but GM is going to absolutely cripple my ability to send/read text messages, interact with the media on my phone, and access information from apps that simply aren't supported by the car's OS.

It's a fake justification from GM, Rivian and Tesla anyway. Their decision to not support CarPlay is about one thing, Money! They want to charge you to access the infortainment features you care about. Rivian charges $15/mo just to access services that you already pay a fee for.

It will all settle out ... cars are commodity product. People choose their cars based on the little things they prioritize. It's clear CarPlay is one of those things. As EV competition heats up, people will veer towards the one's that integrate with their digital lives more seamlessly and away from those that don't. It will take time, but not giving customers what they want will be a disastrous decision for car makers.

 

[fivetoedbear]

Just hot glue an iPad to that monstrous dashboard. Oh, maybe velcro would be better.

There are dedicated CarPlay display units you can stick on the dashboard. I suggested that to a friend who has several utility vehicles; he wouldn't have to install a radio in all of them (including a CarPlay capable radio that would fit in a single-DIN slot in a pickup truck).

 

[Radeon85]

No CarPlay, no sale.

 

[chrisone]

the only way to do this is to offer both - your own thing and carplay. like bmw, mercedes, vw, fiat, and practically every brand except Tesla as far as i know (i am not sure how the Chinese EV brands do it)

 

[Mojohanna32]

I have a GMC Sierra and a Tesla. Even though the Tesla doesn't support Carplay, their interface is far superior to the GMC set up. Here is the differerence and where GM will ultimately fail. Tesla (as well as Apple) are technology companies. GM is a car manufacturer.

 

[Apple_Robert]

The bottom line is GM wants to get money for their own service and doesn’t like better competition. I hope people let GM know just how bad a decision this is.

 

[jbachandouris]

Their Equinox EV is selling so poorly, they are giving a $10,000 cash allowance and .9% financing. (I'm currently upside down-owe more than car is worth). Problem is range. 300 miles under normal temperatures. I live in Upstate NY so it could drop to as low as 150 miles. This and the no CarPlay makes this a no for me.

 

[Edsel]

My new vehicle has Apple CarPlay and I don't use it. I want to protect my data and passwords from 3rd parties and from hackers. My biggest concern is security of the vehicle through the OTA updates to its firmware and software. You don't want a hacker group accessing the vehicle's operating system that could change a vehicle's behavior while the vehicle is traveling at 70Mph.

 

[Nonstickron]

Translation: "We'd like to go back to selling you software updates to your in-dash systems. And now we can take a cut of all the other apps too."

 

[SnowCrocodile]

By the way, GM had some major layoffs in their IT organization recently. I am not sure how much actual experience they have in the car application business.

The infotainment system in the one GM SUV we have in the family is atrocious, fugly and glitchy, and this was their top-of-the-line model for that brand. At least it still has CarPlay (which doesn’t help when the volume controls just stop working, about once a week).

To be honest, this is probably the last GM vehicle we’d buy anyway. At 5 years and 60k miles I already had two major repairs that I had to pay for out of pocket. One of the breakdowns left us stranded on a country freeway on Sunday afternoon. Never again.

 

[Goodeye]

So wait now its only in EV's? Didn't they originally state it was for ALL GM vehicles when they announced it a year or so ago?

 

[pepsijunky]

These guys are just so full of Sh*t.

Just say the truth, you want to gouge your consumers with monthly subscriptions.

I have a 2021 Chevy with Carplay and I love it, so guess I am sticking with this car for awhile.

 

[onenorth]

I have a GMC Sierra and a Tesla. Even though the Tesla doesn't support Carplay, their interface is far superior to the GMC set up. Here is the differerence and where GM will ultimately fail. Tesla (as well as Apple) are technology companies. GM is a car manufacturer.

Tesla is not an consumer tech company like Apple, it's a battery/motor tech company that monetizes the tech by selling it in cars that they build.

GM has said it wants to become a tech company (even changing their logo to an electric plug) and have someone else design the cars for the tech, but that would be a sea change for a company that has been building cars for over 100 years.

Everyone should just focus on doing one thing well and let others do everything else. IMHO.

 

[Radeon85]

Have you guys actually used Carplay? It's not very good. More often than not I end up on my phone anyways because Siri can't understand me when connected to my car.

If GM, Rivian, Tesla, whoever else can build a better system, be my guest.

Yes, and I have used it for many years but only with an aftermarket headunit. I originally installed a wired CarPlay headunit into a 2011 Focus MK3 Titanium as wireless CarPlay didn't exist at the time, and it worked great even with those after market 3rd party wireless adapters.

Upgraded the headunit to a Pioneer SPH-DA360DAB with wireless CarPlay and it still works great, Siri has no issues performing the majority of my requests the first time and everything works really well, and it connects perfectly every time I start the car.

 

[anthony13]

I wouldn't want to ever have a car without CarPlay again. More importantly than my personal preference though, I would think objectively more choices for the consumer is the better path forward for manufacturers.

 

[SnowCrocodile]

Have you guys actually used Carplay? It's not very good. More often than not I end up on my phone anyways because Siri can't understand me when connected to my car.

If GM, Rivian, Tesla, whoever else can build a better system, be my guest.

My wife and I have used CarPlay exclusively for at least seven years. Before that we both drove Euro sedans without infotainment screens so used the phones directly.

I have no problem with Siri understanding basic commands most of the time. Most importantly, I set up my phone once and I am getting the same exact screen and apps that I customized per my tastes with every car I get in - my car, wife’s car, or rentals.

If GM can create a better system, then they should not be afraid of also supporting CarPlay, even if only to get the initial sales. Obviously the customers will see that GM is offering a superior product, the word will spread, and then they could eliminate CarPlay support in the next product generation.

But I have some serious doubts…

 

[gank41]

By the way, GM had some major layoffs in their IT organization recently. I am not sure how much actual experience they have in the car application business.

The infotainment system in the one GM SUV we have in the family is atrocious, fugly and glitchy, and this was their top-of-the-line model for that brand. At least it still has CarPlay (which doesn’t help when the volume controls just stop working, about once a week).

To be honest, this is probably the last GM vehicle we’d buy anyway. At 5 years and 60k miles I already had two major repairs that I had to pay for out of pocket. One of the breakdowns left us stranded on a country freeway on Sunday afternoon. Never again.

I'm sure their layoffs were due to not needing a support team for CarPlay