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GM Reportedly Blocks Dealership From Installing CarPlay in Newer EVs

FredTX92 said:
Apple needs to fix the Bluetooth on the 15 Pro. It never connects to CarPlay automatically and the audio issues are horrendous.
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I'm not sure what issue you're experiencing, but it could be with your car. I connect my 15 Pro wirelessly to CarPlay and it has never -- not once -- failed to work in my 2019 BMW.
 
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jlc1978 said:
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.
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Modifications like this usually come with the warning that you shouldn’t go to the dealership for anything or you may risk losing the change (or they may refuse service). Again folks that are willing to go through the steps needed to get this should already be made aware of this.

Thinking about having a dealership install it means you can’t go to any other dealership, so it kind of is a form of lockin for service. Especially if this is just loading a different firmware.
 
bluespark said:
I'm not sure what issue you're experiencing, but it could be with your car. I connect my 15 Pro wirelessly to CarPlay and it has never -- not once -- failed to work in my 2019 BMW.
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I have had two BMWs with wireless CarPlay and it worked flawlessly in both over six years. Like didn’t once not connect.

I’ve had multiple non-BMW rentals with it where it worked right like once or twice over an entire week. I don’t know what BMW is doing that others aren’t, my only guess is maybe other car companies are cheaping out on parts, but it’s a complete guess.
 
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bluespark said:
I'm not sure what issue you're experiencing, but it could be with your car. I connect my 15 Pro wirelessly to CarPlay and it has never -- not once -- failed to work in my 2019 BMW.
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I’ve had tons of iPhones with this car, never had an issue.
 
Ramchi said:
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!
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I suspect a lot would just go back to mounts for their phones or put in 3rd party systems. I know I would.
 
diamond.g said:
Modifications like this usually come with the warning that you shouldn’t go to the dealership for anything or you may risk losing the change (or they may refuse service). Again folks that are willing to go through the steps needed to get this should already be made aware of this.
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The problem with that means you can’t get any warranty service, which is not a good thing if you still are under warranty.

diamond.g said:
Thinking about having a dealership install it means you can’t go to any other dealership, so it kind of is a form of lockin for service. Especially if this is just loading a different firmware.
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I can see where that would be an issue for GM since it means if a problem arose and the installing dealer was not nearby, such as on a trip, you could not get warranty service or any dealer service. The buyer would likely blame GM even though it’s not their fault.

The problem is how integrated car systems have become, making replacing any part nearly impossible. Sometimes you can upgrade software and change a connector to add CarPlay, such as with some F150’s, but that is an exception to the rule.
 
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FredTX92 said:
I’ve had tons of iPhones with this car, never had an issue.
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It could be a problem that individual phone. Others are not generally having trouble with iPhone 15 Pro and CarPlay.

The hand-off between the car and the phone to setup the connection involving both Bluetooth and WiFi is probably fairly complex. Once in a while, the phone and car will fail to connect no matter which car or which phone. It is usually a transient issue and not a problem if it does not happen frequently. Most of my cars have not had connection problems, but I did have one that would do it 2-3 times a year. I found, if I stopped the car, shut it off, opened the door, then restarted it, the connection would complete. I think opening or closing the door told the car to restart its stack.
 
Car companies don't know how to develop UI, they should give up.
they are loosing revenue by allowing Apple and Android.
But every UI in car i have seen is awful.

Telsa has good UI but they keep moving things around with every update, it is annoying.
 
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Admiral Fart said:
Any car company that refuses to allow CarPlay and Android Auto have completely lost the plot. If they're capable of making decisions this astoundingly stupid and customer-hostile, what else are they doing wrong? Brakes made of plastic?
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Tesla doesn't have CarPlay or Android Auto
 
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I am convinced that Cadillac's strategy is to sell the least amount of cars possible at the highest price the market can bear. They are betting the brand on electric vehicles and, in doing so, admitting total defeat in ICE market -- a shame really. It wants to be known as the luxury Tesla. The biggest beneficiaries of this strategy will be Lexus and Lincoln. It stopped competing against the Germans a decade ago. Moving towards propriety software is just another way to set it off from the competition -- or alienate its customers.
 
FredTX92 said:
Apple needs to fix the Bluetooth on the 15 Pro. It never connects to CarPlay automatically and the audio issues are horrendous.
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wireless carplay uses both Bluetooth (for pairing) and wi-fi (it uses wifi for the extra bandwidth required for the screen)

I had issues with a 3rd party pioneer, their support was great and they went over the issues that can affect wireless carplay:

Interference on BT and wifi of course being the obvious one (I've found a few areas where it always drops out on the freeway near an e-tag gate) but wireless carplay also requires a good GPS signal from the head unit to keep battery drain on the phone low.

The tech who installed my GPS antenna put it it behind the head unit, once it was installed correctly it worked 99% of the time on my 14 pro max.

Can't speak for the 15 pro but it could be related
 
BelgianChoklit said:
Many car manufacturerd are moving to service models. Soon you'll be paying a monthly fee for your brakes and you better make sure your subscription doesn't expire when you're going downhill
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I’m over the subscription model for everything. yes, it’s popular, but how did we end up in a subscription society?
 
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jlc1978 said:
The problem with that means you can’t get any warranty service, which is not a good thing if you still are under warranty.



I can see where that would be an issue for GM since it means if a problem arose and the installing dealer was not nearby, such as on a trip, you could not get warranty service or any dealer service. The buyer would likely blame GM even though it’s not their fault.

The problem is how integrated car systems have become, making replacing any part nearly impossible. Sometimes you can upgrade software and change a connector to add CarPlay, such as with some F150’s, but that is an exception to the rule.
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Right. All I am saying is this modification could stand on it's own for folks that are willing to deal with the consequences. Folks have shown willingness to mess with HV connectors (and airbags) to get stuff installed*, so I don't see what the worry is here. Plus a third party industry could have risen from the hole left by the dealership.

*An example of this is the Ghost "upgrade" from Ingenext for the Model 3, all it does is tell the gateway that you have a performance model, tesla knows about it even though it is supposed to be "hidden" so it technically voids your drivetrain warranty, but folks still use it.
 
davide_eu said:
So please, your values are:

1. playcar
2. price ??
3. fuel efficiency ??
4. design ??
5. safety ??

so, for you that gadget is in the first place... correct?
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If the choice is between 2 different models and one does have car play, and one does not, I will not be buying the vehicle without CarPlay. It would 100% be a deciding factor. That’s the beauty of competition in the marketplace.
 
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diamond.g said:
Right. All I am saying is this modification could stand on it's own for folks that are willing to deal with the consequences. Folks have shown willingness to mess with HV connectors (and airbags) to get stuff installed*, so I don't see what the worry is here. Plus a third party industry could have risen from the hole left by the dealership.
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While I have no doubt there are people who would DIY; my guess is the market is too small to be profitable enough to invest money in marketing the product and creating a support system. Dealing with a dealer means you have someone who has the knowledge and equipment to do an instal, and won’t need many calls to help people doing it DIY; plus if it requires any coding tehy will have the required systems, unlike an individual.

In the end, it may just not be profitable and teh dealer was a beta test to see if it was a viable product.
 
lcs101 said:
www.cnet.com

If You Don’t Charge Your EV at Home, Do You Save Money Compared to Paying for Gas?

With gas and electricity prices constantly changing, we crunched the numbers to see if driving an EV is cheaper than a gas-powered car.
www.cnet.com www.cnet.com
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That’s why I think a hybrid is a good compromise. EV for short trips, which is most of what poeple do on a daily basis and the rechareg overnight; gas for longer trips so you have no need to worry about charging.

One downside to EVs is higher insurance costs.
 
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