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GM Reportedly Blocks Dealership From Installing CarPlay in Newer EVs
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If ESA astronauts want to go to the ISS, they'll either be in one of Musks capsules or they're going to have to pay Russia to take them. Not sure if your comment was directed as a criticism of Musk but like it or not he is never going to be irrelevant..
The Honda Prologue rolls off the same assembly line in Mexico as the Chevy Blazer EV. The body panels and screen are different, but the dash uses the same buttons and controls as other Chevy products. It also uses the same Ultium battery platform and drivetrain. It’s practically the same, but it has CarPlay, Android Auto, and Android Automotive.
This reasoning for not having CarPlay is BS. I have a 2024 Chevy Equinox EV which lacks CarPlay, it only uses Android Automotive. The 2024 Cadillac Lyriq uses Android Automotive, but also includes CarPlay. The built in software is identical, they just removed CarPlay from every EV starting with the Blazer EV.
All gas powered GM vehicles that use the same Android Automotive platform also still have CarPlay.
The safety argument that GM is trying to make is this: if you use Apple Maps for directions, it won’t know the state of the battery along the route and give you charging suggestions. Using the built in Google Maps, your current battery level is factored in to route planning, and charge stations are suggested along the way. That’s it, and it’s also BS. The Ford Mustang Mach-E can use CarPlay and integrates the charge level just fine into Apple Maps.
I rarely ever charge my Equinox EV out of the house. I can comfortably drive 2 hours away from home and have enough range to drive two hours back home and not have to charge along the way.
The only reason why I picked the Equinox EV was for the discounts I could get at the time. Tesla was also on my list, but that’s out now. My next ride will likely be a Mustang Mach-E which I really liked, but the 2024 models didn’t have a heat pump and I couldn’t get a deal as good as the Equinox.
US EV sales are up 28% over last year. Only Tesla is down.
Car makers don’t have to pay Apple or Google for their car integrations. GM did pay Google for the Android Automotive software that runs these GM vehicles. Cost is evidently not the reason for this. Expectation of revenue seems a more likely reason.
Or, perhaps, let the customers decide. We aren’t crying over Apple, we are supporting the customers ability to chose whether to integrate their phones with their cars, regardless of GM’s wishes.
I am similar. I had a Chevy Volt until recently. I was ready to move to a full EV so I sold it and bought an Hyundai Ioniq 5. As an existing GM customer who already had EV experience, I should have been a good candidate for one of the GM EVs. I do like the Equinox EV in many ways. The CarPlay policy was a poison pill though and I wrote GM off. I’m very happy with my Ioniq 5 with CarPlay.
Hmm.. Did you happen to buy a low mileage 2017 Volt in blue? 😉
They use the GM Ultium platform and both are variations of the Chevy Blazer. There are body panel differences, suspension tuning differences, interior differences, and software differences, but the structure and drive train are the same. It’s similar to the kind of differences between a Chevy and a Buick built on the same platform. The Prologue is built on the same production line as the Blazer and the ZDX is built on the same production line as the Cadillac Lyriq.
I am putting one in my 635CSi along with a backup camera. Took a while to find a head unit taht would fit, but I did. Put an aftermarket unit in a MB as well that uses the existing display so it looks factory.
Is that an e30 iS in your avatar? I had the eta variant. The iS was the poor man’s M back in the day. Great car.
GM is risk adverse and doesn’t want a dealer installing something that may get them dragged into litigation because of their deep pockets. They probably don’t care if a 3rd party does it, and in worse case require it’s removal to fix a problem related to the infotainment or display system.
The franchise agreement likely allows GM to stop a dealer from doing unauthorized modifications. I’d bet a dealer would not risk its franchise over what is likely a low volume product.
They mahe to prove it, but it’s not just software but harware effects as well. I doubt it would actually do that, but GM does not want to be in a position where they might get dragged into litigation over its use or installation.
GNM also has the engineering talent to test the impact of an installation if need be for a court case.
Has anyone figured out how the dealership what adding CarPlay back in? Seems like GM didn't want them to install it specifically. Wonder why the folks that make the unit have decided not to sell to end users directly.
Obviously they can do what they want... and we can not buy their cars because of it.
Per The Verge, the installation complexity made them decide to only do it via dealers; and only one dealer was doing it. The manufacturers website shows the product is discontinued.
I put an aftermarket CarPlay unit in a Mercedes, and it involved pulling multiple interior parts, running wires, adding an adapter, finding a place for the BT antenna, etc. Not difficult if you have the right tools, and some experience working on cars and installing car radios, but not plug and play either. You also need some computer experience to install software updates to get it to work properly and fix bugs.
No one is looking for more subsriptions, and why would I want to have to buy apps just for my car vs on my phone which will work everywhere...
They could have released it to the general market to see how well it is received.
You can use the same app with the same user id and password across devices. But you may need to pay for the car infotainment system which is being managed by the car maker which includes eSIM charges, calls, texts integration (if you want), other navigation tools etc…Car makers do not have to integrate third party tools such as CarPlay or Android Auto in their vehicles by paying hefty license fees along with them tracking your activities using their system. You may choose not to buy the car, which is very well understood but this is going to be the new norm across the Automobile industry where everyone would come up with their own subscription based infotainment system. It is just matter of time. By which time, Apple itself may start making Cars!
True, but if was as difficult to install as TFA implies, they likely would have a lot of complaints from people lacking the skills to install but trying to thinking they can.
In addition, if it required flashing firmware, most people simply would not have the tools to do that and using a third party tool could risk bricking the car.
BMWs , for example, have a build map that identify what is installed, and moding allows you to add or unlock features. It takes special software to read, modify and flash changes. I had to do that when I added factory bluetooth to my 3’er. I couldn’t just add all the hardware and have it work.
If they do modify firmware there is also the risk an update will either remove CarPlay or not work properly. I suspect GM would not want a dealer to do an update or push an over the air update and brick someone’s car because a dealer installed accessory interfered with the update.