GM Shifts Gears to Apple Music

Although GM is emphatic in its plans to drop CarPlay support, it seems the automaker won’t be leaving Apple fans entirely out in the cold. In an interesting twist, GM has announced both native support for Apple Music and Apple Car Key, even as it prepares to block deeper ties into its infotainment system.

Today, GM announced that Apple Music will be available natively in the infotainment system on many 2025 or newer Chevy and Cadillac vehicles, with cars already on the road receiving it as part of an over-the-air software update through GM’s free OnStar Basics package.

Eligible Cadillac models include the 2025 and 2026 CT5, 2025 Escalade IQ, and 2026 Vistiq. Chevy models include the 2025 and 2026 Blazer EV, Equinox EV, and Silverado EV, and the 2026 Corvette, Suburban, and Tahoe. GM says the feature will come to more vehicles in the future, including the 2027 Chevy Bolt, as well as Buick & GMC vehicles.

Once the software update has been delivered, Apple Music should appear automatically on the dashboard, and users can sign in with their current subscription to stream via OnStar.

While GM’s embrace of Apple Music comes as a surprise, it’s not exactly a first. Porsche added native Apple Music to the Taycan in 2019, although it’s also fair to say that’s in an entirely different league.

In a separate announcement seen by MacRumors, GM also reiterated its plans to roll out support for placing its digital car keys in Apple Wallet. It still hasn’t offered a timeframe or the specific vehicle models it will be coming to, so it’s little more than an affirmation that the company’s earlier promises are still on track. GM was one of 13 automakers on a list that Apple shared at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, and evidence in October pointed to an imminent launch. Industry insiders have predicted it will debut with the 2026 Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, but GM hasn’t formally confirmed anything yet.

Nevertheless, these moves may be little more than an olive branch to customers who have found themselves at odds with the company over its insistence on pivoting to its own in-car systems. A recent survey by American Trucks revealed that 48 percent of GM owners who use CarPlay said they’d switch brands if the automaker goes through with its plans to drop the iPhone integration. A mid-2024 survey we reported on indicated that one-third of new car buyers considered the lack of CarPlay a deal-breaker; the most recent survey by American Trucks raises that number to 55%.

Interestingly, the survey also shows that Apple users are far more likely to seek out a vehicle with CarPlay support, with only 36% of Android users considering the lack of Android Auto a problem, and only 33% willing to switch away from GM as a result of its decision to drop the technology.