GM Says It's Nixing CarPlay to Make Drivers Safer

[NT1440]

They’ve made it very clear that they’re hoping to generate services from user data over the next ten years to the tune of billions.

CarPlay does not allow for that.

They’re just lying about their already stated goals.

 

[Juicy Box]

Combustion vehicles from GM will continue to support CarPlay until they are phased out in favor of an all-electric lineup in 2035.

I think phasing out ICE for an all EV lineup is more shocking than not having CarPlay. GM is willingly going to alienate a large % of car buyers that are do not want or cannot get an EV.

Just a guess, but I think that 2035 will be pushed to the right, by a lot.

 

[morningsong]

Does this mean, you would never be able to do hands free texting in their vehicle if you own an iPhone?
If so, they really just got rid of millions of potential customers.
Dumb.

 

[KD7IWP]

My last name is also Babbitt and I disagree with everything that this Tim Babbitt says regarding CarPlay. I think the UI elements are more familiar to people when their phones create them on the screen rather than GM. I also know that my CarPlay system won't get outdated the way GM's new cars will in a few years when support is dropped. I put aftermarket CarPlay systems in both my cars (2001 BMW 325i and 2009 BMW 535i) and am completely pleased with them! I was running wireless CarPlay pretty much before any OEMs were and it's fantastic.

 

[Shirasaki]

Why bother infotainment system at all? Why not going back to old days of knobs and switches? Even further, why not introducing a system similar to commercial airliners cockpit? Any sort of infotainment system is just a distraction to drivers (especially younger ones) one way or the other.

I’m baffled by this user data war between big companies, and even more so when customer pick sides purely based on who gathers their data.

 

[mike1450]

what a load of ****. They're ditching it cause they want you to buy Onstar.

 

[seek3r]

Google is making GM software - no shocker here that they are shoving Apple out. Good luck with that GM. You just turned off about 1/2 the US who own iPhones.

Google may have ditched “dont be evil” a while ago but this particular issue isnt google, android automotive supports carplay just fine, this is GM wanting telemetry and subscriptions

Bear in mind GM is blocking android auto too, they dont want *any* phone projection, they want to lock you into their services and they want to mine all the telemetry data they can get their hands on

 

[polyphenol]

That’s just one of Apple’s promotional images for CarPlay. They probably just dimmed all that to deemphasize the physical controls.

I'm quite happy to believe that - but I have seen so many terrible choices that I think the point stands in general even you are right in this specific example.

 

[Clix Pix]

Back in 2019 when I was replacing my elderly Acura, I went to my local Honda dealer to check out what they had available, since at that time, Acura no longer had any hatchbacks in their line, while Honda did. First thing I stated that I wanted was that the new vehicle must be a hatchback. Second requirement was that it have Apple CarPlay.

Interestingly enough, I tend to use just the wireless BT functionality for playing music from my iTunes library in the car while running local errands since I'm making frequent stops and am jumping in-and-out of the car at each new location and it's just easier not to have to keep plugging in the iPhone for wired CarPlay, then unplugging the iPhone very soon again so I can put it safely into my purse before entering the destination shop, library, bank, whatever. The iPhone stays safely in the purse the entire time I am running errands, I am able to enjoy my music in the car: win-win. On longer trips, though, it's a different story and CarPlay is wonderful for those situations.

Not that I'd ever buy a GM car, but I do think they are making what is likely to be a fatal mistake in terms of their future sales....

 

[Prof.]

This is some next level stupid from GM.

 

[skit911]

Earlier this year, General Motors (GM) announced plans to phase out Apple's CarPlay and Android Auto in its future electric vehicles, with the company instead relying on an infotainment system co-developed with Google. This has not been a popular decision with iPhone users, and today, GM provided some additional insight into the decision in a discussion with MotorTrend.

According to Tim Babbitt, GM's head of product for infotainment, GM has driver safety in mind. CarPlay and Android Auto can have issues like bad connections, slow response times, compatibility issues, and connectivity problems, leading drivers to be distracted from the road with smartphone troubleshooting.

Babbitt claims that drivers will be less likely to pick up their phones with a built-in system that does not rely on a service like CarPlay, leading to improved safety on the road. GM does not have any data to prove that an infotainment system is less distracting than CarPlay, nor has it done any testing.

Babbitt cited J.D. Power data suggesting issues with CarPlay and Android Auto are common complaints from vehicle owners, with customers often blaming the vehicle manufacturer rather than Apple or Google.

The infotainment system that GM plans to adopt instead of CarPlay will have integrated Google apps, including Google Maps and Google Assistant for voice commands, rather than a third-party navigation system. As MotorTrend points out, eliminating CarPlay will provide GM with more control over driver data, and it will allow GM to offer subscription services and apps that allow for purchases of food, gas, and other sundries.

Back in August, GM said that choosing not to offer CarPlay would give it more information about charge state information to assist with navigation routing and provide a better user experience.

CarPlay will be eliminated in electric vehicles under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands. Combustion vehicles from GM will continue to support CarPlay until they are phased out in favor of an all-electric lineup in 2035.

Article Link: GM Says It's Nixing CarPlay to Make Drivers Safer

Reason all you want. CarPlay is a must have feature for the majority of iPhone users - which is a good chunk of GM’s customer base. Let’s see how fast they turn on this one.

 

[bayportbob]

simple for me, I like car play, no car play means I do not buy your car, I have not bought a GM vehicle for decades now, now I will never buy a GM vehicle... not a problem...

 

[CapitalIdea]

"Do it for the children!" Good grief.

 

[gank41]

With Google’s (and Spotify’s) deal with GM, this allows Google to integrate directly with the Car’s computer for things like Google maps and other analytical data about where you go and what you do. iPhones and android phones gave you the option to opt out of that. This side steps all of that by not even allowing you to use your phones interface at all.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Ahaha sorry but **** off GM. I wouldn’t ordinarily be so crass but they are so full of **** about everything. Wanna make the roads safer how about stop making 20,000 pound death machines.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I literally cancelled an order for an 2024 EV Equinox because of this. Sales guy was not happy.

Good. Hope the reason why made it all the way to someone who gives a ****. Highly doubt it though.

 

[gd2024]

Is this the same GM Corporate that runs the ad touting hands free driving of a big truck towing a boat on a 2 lane bridge while the idiot driver is clapping to music (I think it's Queen's We Will Rock You?). Yeah, safety for sure. I want to take an offramp if I know that idiot and truck and boat are coming at me, hands-free.

 

[Nick_P]

Short GM shares. No one will be buying. Integration with people's phones is probably the #1 feature these days.

 

[btrach144]

Oooo. They’re doubling down.

Seems like Apple and Google should sue for slander. These are baseless claims and not backed up since they haven’t tested their own system.

GM is trash. Let’s be honest. They can’t do better than Apple.

 

[appleCakes]

This of course looks stupid in so many ways, the question is what’s behind it. There may be a user data deal with Google in place that in GM view will pay more than their loss. Model probably close to how Google works with Android phone makers.

It could be a signal For a Waymo + GM move. It seems Waymo and GM could benefit each other.

 

[Plutonius]

Just another money grab.

and who here actually believes that we will be all EV by 2035 (11 years) ?

 

[Chuckeee]

Volvo is also strongly pushing Google auto in their current (2014) vehicles. Although you can still use Apple car play instead “if you want”.

There ask several issues with Google auto as implemented in Volvo.

1. Google is the default, you have to select Apple car play if that is what you want

2. Google system is free for the first 4 years, there after there is an annual fee

3. To use their Google system you must have or sign up for a Google users account

4. The privacy disclosure is you share practically everything with Google

 

[flexwithmarius]

Modern cars are forcing drivers to give up more and more control, this is just the latest example. But everyone has to have cars loaded with technology.

Charge higher prices, make everything “premium”, take away controls or lock them behind paywalls, that’s the modern car for ya.

Oh and of course making everything electric so they can have maximum control.

V8 and carplay are all I need. Screw the rest.

 

[NT1440]

Google may have ditched “dont be evil” a while ago but this particular issue isnt google, android automotive supports carplay just fine, this is GM wanting telemetry and subscriptions

Bear in mind GM is blocking android auto too, they dont want *any* phone projection, they want to lock you into their services and they want to mine all the telemetry data they can get their hands on

Exactly this. I use wireless CarPlay on an android auto cheap (~$120) head unit. Works great, and if it doesn’t I reboot and it works great again.

This is GM using a BS explanation, when they’ve already been telling the financial press they’re projecting (dreaming) tens of billions in revenue yearly from services and subscriptions in the next decade.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

GM will have no issues selling Escalades and Yukons. Trust me.