GM’s replacement for CarPlay is due at the end of 2023, but its dealers are in the dark about when that will be and what it will do to sales when buyers figure it out.
My Miata shipped without CarPlay. When Mazda added support it later they had to replace one USB port ($12 part) and an hour of labor.
They charged $350. I didn’t hesitate for a second. I haven’t met an OEM interface that didn’t make me want to stab myself in the eye.
I recently got a Kia with Android Auto and my Tesla-driving brother is jealous that I can use Google Maps on a big screen, with no extra car mount.
When I was at a Holden dealer, CarPlay (and Android Auto) would sell cars.
Customers would wander in, drooling over a cars performance, styling, economy, luxury etc. they’re oils then ask about CarPlay (or Android Auto): if the car did not have it, they would go cold straight away and just walk straight out the door, without even thanking the salesman for their time.
Carplay was on a very short list of requirements for me when I bought my car a few years ago, so I totally understand this.
It was basically:
- Is a standard
- Has Carplay
- (of course some other things, but those two were very high)
No car manufacturer’s in-house stuff will be as useful to me. It just won’t.
Same here after dealing with shoddy infotainment software in the past. CarPlay, AWD and preferably a manual was all it needed
I’ve worked in this space in the past, and unless car manufacturers have significantly improved their UX chops this will go terribly. Further, this just seems like an opportunity for GM to further DLC’ify the car. Generally Android Auto and Car Play would be standard on even the lowest models, but now you might have to pay a monthly subscription to access this
GM has previously said that people who buy a new GM electric vehicle will get access to features such as Google Maps for free — for eight years. After that, GM expects people to subscribe for what they used to get free with CarPlay, and ultimately sees it giving GM a potential $25 billion revenue stream.
My ten year old Chevy Volt just lost connectivity a few months ago because of the 3g phase out, leading me to unsubscribe from Onstar. How many years of subscriptions are GM planning to have before the next network phase out?
And anyone who used GM’s in-dash maps knows they can’t be trusted to keep their products updated lol
Yeah that’s some crap. At that point I’d just have my maps on my phone in the cupholder, no chance in hell I’m paying a subscription for something my phone already does, hands free laws be damned.
As someone who dosn’t have carplay but whose next vehicle will 100% have it. Yeah… as much as I dislike using my phone as a GPS sometimes compared to have android auto or carplay in a work truck there is zero chance of me spending money on any kinda of GPS while google maps exists.
Hmm. I really am struggling trying to predict the outcome here.
On the one hand, we have a ubiquitous FREE interface that is mature and works via your phone (that 99% of people already have and are familiar with with their own custom music playlists) and is updated constantly.
On the other hand, we have a PAID interface that sucks donkey dick in usability with little to no customization or upgrade ability and will need to be managed completely separately from your phone.
The entire executive team should be escorted out of GM headquarters after receiving swirlies.
I predict no car rental companies will buy these cars because renters would demand a different vehicle.
It’s hilarious to me that these car companies think consumers will put up with their shitty infotainment just so they can hopefully open a new revenue stream with subscriptions. Consumers are just going to pass over your shit for competitors that do have Carplay/Android Auto.
What’s even worse is GM hired a VP who failed at Apple.
I wish I could fail upwards like that.
Going from VP at Apple to one at GM feels like a proper fail to me.
For the individual it doesn’t matter what the company name is. It matters what they’re paid.
I assume that’s a reference to Mike Abbott, as he’s a software VP at GM and used to work at Apple. He was only hired this year so I don’t see salary data for him, but other “Executive Vice President” positions are paid ~$8.8m as of 2022. No idea what he was paid at Apple, but it’s hard to consider a salary that is likely in the high 7 digits or low 8 digits to be a “proper fail.” If it is, I would love to sign up for this kind of failure.
My car has CarPlay where my last car didn’t. I’ll tell you now, I won’t get another car without it.
So says literally everyone I have ever seen comment on the matter. Seriously, is there anyone out there that has tried CarPlay/AndroidAuto and said “eh, I don’t see the point”?
I mean, people who don’t care about their radio that much? Honestly, long as I have Bluetooth or an aux port, I’m good.
Not that I don’t like Android Auto or wouldn’t prefer to have it, but the lack of it wouldn’t be an absolute deal breaker
My parents don’t care about CarPlay at all. It’s in their GMC truck but they have no interest in using it, and get confused when it pops up. That being said, they also will absolutely not subscribe to whatever service GM tries to launch in its place. I guess just pointing out that there are some people who don’t see the point, but they also wouldn’t see the point of whatever GM launches.
It integrates poorly in my car and requires a USB cable so I don’t bother. I’m happier just using my phone screen.
Most jurisdictions have either already introduced, or in the process of introducing laws that restrict what you can do with your phone whilst driving. Some have higher penalties for distracted driving than drink driving or speeding!
If you do want Wireless CarPlay, there are cheap USB dongles available that may work to adapt your factory Car Audio to enable it. They are also useful as an alternative if your older car radio is unable to provide sufficient current for your newer device to charge.
Or just don’t play around on your phone while you drive. Pick your podcast/playlist, load the directions, and off you go.
I built a better solution that doesn’t require plugging anything in, so for me it wasn’t useful. Bought a new car and now I simply use bluetooth for music. I see CarPlay has a wireless option now, I should look into that.
The presence of Apple CarPlay was a factor in choosing my latest car.
There is ZERO chance I’d buy a car without CarPlay or Android Auto. Why would I buy GM when other manufactures get it right the first time?
I have a Chevrolet. I won’t buy another vehicle that I can’t use my Android phone in.
Literally everyone in the world can see this is a braindead play except GM
Of course it will go bad. This is the most obvious stupid move I’ve seen in a while.
It’s fascinating reading all of the responses here. I’ve never driven a car with Android Auto or CarPlay, and only use my phone for music and maps infrequently while in the car (with an aftermarket Bluetooth adapter). So I guess I don’t really know what I’m missing. I have absolutely no doubt that GM’s software wouldn’t be as good as connecting up to your phone, but I just have a hard time imagining that being the deciding factor on buying a car or not.
Can someone explain what exactly carplay/Android auto do? I’ve seen a lot about them recently but have yet to fully understand what they are, besides that they are for interfacing with a car.
My experience with connecting phones to my (parent’s) cars is just using Bluetooth to connect and play music from the car speakers and receive calls and texts over it but that’s about it. The cars are both Toyota RAV4s, one fully ICE one hybrid.
