No more CarPlay as GM cuts phone ties in all cars, not just EVs

General Motors is making a major change to its car dashboards. The company plans to remove Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from all its future vehicles, meaning drivers will no longer be able to project their smartphone apps, like maps and music, directly onto the car's main screen. The change will not only affect new EVs but will also roll out to the company's entire lineup of gas-powered cars and trucks.

GM executives say they are doing this to improve the driving experience. During a recent interview, CEO Mary Barra explained the company's reasoning. She said that drivers gave feedback that switching between the car's built-in system and the phone projection system was "very clunky." Barra claimed this back-and-forth "wasn't seamless" and could even be "distracting." The company believes that a single, unified system will be safer and easier for people to use.

This plan first came to light in 2023 when GM announced it would ditch the popular phone systems in its new electric cars. The company explained that its electric cars were the "development spotlight," so major new decisions were applied to them first.

But this leaves a slightly confusing landscape for buyers. The new Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Hummer EV are still sold with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the United States. Strangely, all of GM's EVs sold in other countries also continue to support the systems, at least for now.

The company's plan is to phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as each of its models gets a major update. "When you look at the fact that we have over 40 models across our portfolio, you don't just do this, and they all update," Barra said. This means the change will happen gradually over the next few years. As new versions of cars like the Chevrolet Silverado or Cadillac Escalade are released, they will arrive with GM's new, locked-in software.

The new cars will feature an infotainment system built on Google's Android Automotive platform. This is different from Android Auto, which just projects a phone. Android Automotive runs all the apps directly on the car's computer. This means GM will control the entire software experience, offering apps like Google Maps and Spotify natively.

Customers who get these new systems will have to log in to every single app individually. Unfortunately, the system creates a wall for Apple iPhone users. If a favorite app isn't available on Google's platform, iPhone owners are simply out of luck. They will not be able to use it in the vehicle. This could be a big problem for many drivers who prefer the Apple ecosystem.

GM's leadership, however, is standing firm. Sterling Anderson, the company's Chief Product Officer, acknowledged the login problem and said they are "working on a way to simplify" it, though he offered no details. He also stated that the list of available apps will "grow over time."

General Motors is taking a big gamble. It is telling its customers, and especially its many iPhone users, to "get on board" with its own vision for the future. The company is betting that its native system will be so good that drivers won't miss the simple, familiar convenience of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Will it work? Let's hope the company has all the kinks ironed out before it frustrates customers and sends them looking at other car brands.

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