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GM to Remove CarPlay from All Future Vehicles, Including Gas Cars [Updated]
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I'm with the consensus: the in-care experience was bad. I rented a Chevy once where I would periodically have to turn the ignition off to get the infotainment to talk to my iPhone. I didn't buy a BMW because the iPod integration was so terrible. Etc. etc.:got it.
This is why CarPlay was the glass of cold water in hell.
But it is basically a hack. It's a necessary hack: not confused about that. But it is a hack, to get round car makers' inability to write a software stack.
However, two groups of car owners (maybe three) are much less religious about this: Tesla and Rivian owners. Got it: some people reliably post about how no CarPlay is a deal-breaker for them, but very few Tesla owners are in that camp. I'm all-Apple down the line, and I don't care, FWIW. But Tesla is basically a vertically integrated software and hardware company. So is Rivian. (The one I might add is BYD: I rented one in the UK though it happened to have CarPlay! But I hear good things.)
GM hired former Apple exec Mike Abbott to develop this. People should maybe watch the video Joanna Stern did with Rivian's RJ Scaringe because he puts the case for an integrated system really well. I am genuinely curious, and wish Abbott — and GM — well. The track record doesn't fill me with optimism, but I like the competitive urge. Now, if only they'd stop designing such fugly vehicles…
This is why CarPlay was the glass of cold water in hell.
But it is basically a hack. It's a necessary hack: not confused about that. But it is a hack, to get round car makers' inability to write a software stack.
However, two groups of car owners (maybe three) are much less religious about this: Tesla and Rivian owners. Got it: some people reliably post about how no CarPlay is a deal-breaker for them, but very few Tesla owners are in that camp. I'm all-Apple down the line, and I don't care, FWIW. But Tesla is basically a vertically integrated software and hardware company. So is Rivian. (The one I might add is BYD: I rented one in the UK though it happened to have CarPlay! But I hear good things.)
GM hired former Apple exec Mike Abbott to develop this. People should maybe watch the video Joanna Stern did with Rivian's RJ Scaringe because he puts the case for an integrated system really well. I am genuinely curious, and wish Abbott — and GM — well. The track record doesn't fill me with optimism, but I like the competitive urge. Now, if only they'd stop designing such fugly vehicles…
Well, I want to say that I will most definitely forego all GM products with this decision, but truth be told, I gave up on GM years ago after too many cars with too many problems. Now if Toyota and Honda move this direction, I will be bummed!
Tesla is the only company that can get away with no CarPlay because they actually do have vertical integration and are a tech company. After listening to a similar issue with the Ford CEO, it's obvious that the legacy car manufacturers bogged down in tech. For instance, not owning the code that controls how the automatic windows work in your own car. Here GM is pulling off a Band-Aid too late and with probably no way to recover.
(Honestly, I sat for a drive in a Tesla with FSD 14 this week and I doubt any legacy manufacturers are going to make it. So this problem will fix itself when GM fails to exist. FSD is as bad as it will ever be and is extremely good. I think it's hopeless for GM etc. Only Musk's personality might have set back the adoption of FSD a few years.)
(Honestly, I sat for a drive in a Tesla with FSD 14 this week and I doubt any legacy manufacturers are going to make it. So this problem will fix itself when GM fails to exist. FSD is as bad as it will ever be and is extremely good. I think it's hopeless for GM etc. Only Musk's personality might have set back the adoption of FSD a few years.)
+100 to this. I've talked to some of the folks in charge of the in-car experience for major brand, and they are really scared of being dis-intermediated: losing control of their dashboard and the driver experience in general. It will make it easier for customers to switch brands, they crave loyalty.
The real problem is that this CEO believes her SVP of software when they say that they can equal and keep up with Apple/Google in creating a passably modern, integrated experience. She'll experience a rude awakening when integration point happen that they haven't yet dreamed of and have no chance of matching. AI being the obvious example: GM AI, anyone?
This policy announcement is an attempt to encourage other major manufacturers to hold the line against adopting CarPlay Ultra. As long as no-one does it, GM doesn't look bad in comparison. Just like Home Depot holding out against Apple Pay for a few years and then giving up.
From my perspective it as if GM just went out of business and is not making new vehicles.
They are dead to me.
Buying a car without CarPlay (even a Tesla) is like buying a Smart TV with no HDMI inputs. There is no way I would be that stupid.
They are dead to me.
Buying a car without CarPlay (even a Tesla) is like buying a Smart TV with no HDMI inputs. There is no way I would be that stupid.
Completely typical for corporate America in 2025, not surprised.
I will likely never consider a GM so if they want to further implode sales let them. For them to say they will produce a better product, this is not likely. Would you want the first year beta software or the multi-year, proven product. Why do car makers think they are good at software development? Just look at the horrible infotainment systems across so many brands. The best approach is to partner with proven leaders.
Tesla can do all that they are doing and still support CarPlay trivially. No matter how good the operating system and interface are on a smart TV, you still would not buy a smart TV with no HDMI inputs. So why buy a car from a manufacturer that refuses to let you put what you want on the display that you have to use for hours on end while driving?
My Grandpa was an Electro Motive GM employee and I have owned many GM cars, this is a STUPID DECISION!!!
I only use the Sirius Xmas app for streaming, in no way I’ll go back to their satellite service. what a waste, i just got a tahoe
Is apple asking too much for them to use their platform? They never said android auto
I literally choose my current vehicle largely bc it had apple car play.
FWIW, lack of Carplay is a major reason why Tesla was not on my radar when buying EVs in the past - even before it became the Swasticar.
Of course, the other reasons - poor build quality, poor sensors, and no instrument cluster or at least a HUD - would be enough on their own to buy something else. And these days, Musk would also serve as a reason not to get it.
I guess what I am saying is that we are very very close (and I encourage anyone who has not driven FSD 14 to do so immediately) to NON-supervised FSD. At that point just bring your ipad, macbook, and iphone in the car and do whatever you want on your commute. When the average consumer finds out they need to choose between similarly priced cars, one that dives you around while you watch tiktok and any other option then all other options will just go away. It's going to be like the death of certain phone companies when the iphone dropped.
For me, it's not a reason to buy car. Almost every car has it.
However, not having it is an immediate disqualifier
This is the same executive team who thought they understood Holden and the Australian market. They closed down the car plant and lost the entire market in the process as Australians walked away from the brand. They went from top ten player to a complete withdraw from the market in three years. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed when it comes to understanding their customers. Apparently in GM you fail upwards, as thats the only explanation I can think of as to why any of them still have jobs.
my parents have 3 GM vehicles all from around 2017 and their in car system is terrible. even their implementation of CarPlay sucks cus it doesn't auto launch when ya plug the phone in and frequently has other problems
That is pretty wild. I can count off top of my head a dozen people I know who have one and they all love it and call it the best car they have ever owned. A few others just love it without "the best ever" comment.
I just purchased a 2025 GM vehicle two months ago. CarPlay availability was a defining factor in my selection of a GM brand vehicle.
OnStar, in its present form, is in no way a contender to compete with the likes of CarPlay or Android Auto.
I would NEVER pay for the existing service, although my 2025 car comes with 8 years of 'OnStar Basic', which consists of Automatic Crash Response, Remote Commands, Navigation Apps and Voice Assistance. Essentially a tepid offering, but it's 'free' so I'll take it.
I can see GM reversing their position on this once sales flounder, stockholders howl for blood and consumers demand the reintegration of CarPlay in their vehicle offerings.
I can definitely testify that if their path forward includes removing CarPlay from future models, my wife and I will definitely be looking at another brand to purchase from in the coming years.
But C-suite occupants are amazingly tone-deaf and hopelessly out of touch with consumers.
We are nowhere near close to non-supervised FSD as a general solution. It can be done rather well in relatively controlled conditions (premapped areas that are constantly rescanned, restricted based on weather, expected type of use, etc, see: the waymo self driving cabs in austin, though not Tesla's because those arent actually self driving most of the time, they're remotely driven right now most of the time, and significantly more restricted in where they go), turning the same systems loose as a general solution to novel driving situations doesnt work nearly as well.