GM exec believes ditching Apple CarPlay in EVs is the path forward

• GM is phasing out Apple CarPlay in its lineup
• New Chevy, Cadillac, GMC, and Buick EVs won’t have Apple CarPlay
• GM’s software boss believes the automaker’s making the right call

General Motors is still committed to phasing out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity in future EVs, software boss Baris Cetinok said in a recent interview with The Verge.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allow users to “project” features from their smartphones onto in-car displays—plus more for EVs, including route planning—have proven popular with customers. But GM announced last year that it would stop including them in future EVs as it shifts to a new Google-based infotainment system.

That’s still the best path forward, Cetinok told The Verge, because it allows GM “to create the most deeply integrated experience that you can create with the vehicle,” rather than relying on interfaces ported in from smartphone apps.

“We are not shipping devices with just monitors; we’re not a monitor company,” said Cetinok, who previously worked at Apple in product management and marketing for features like Apple Pay and iCloud. Abandoning deeper smartphone connectivity will create a seamless experience across different features, such as driver aids like GM’s Super Cruise and entertainment features like podcast apps, he claimed.

2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV RS

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV was the first GM vehicle to launch without Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and subsequent EV launches like the Chevy Equinox EV and Chevy Silverado EV have also gone without those features. It’s likely more of an adjustment for users who prefer Apple features like Apple Maps. Google-based infotainment systems in newer GM EVs incorporate many of the same features as Android Auto, such as Google Maps and Google Assistant voice recognition—but it’s worth noting that all of these services require a separate vehicle data connection that will cost extra to owners in the future and provide GM with an extra revenue stream.

Deep integration of software features can be important for route planning, as access to the vehicle’s state of charge and other data is needed to determine charging stops and precondition battery packs for the quickest possible charge. But as other automakers have demonstrated, that doesn’t mean taking functionality away. For instance, Ford EVs offer a choice, with these abilities integrated with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as via its own built-in navigation systems.