Your Next GM Car May Not Support Carplay
2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ [GM]
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In March 2023, US automaker General Motors (GM) announced plans to phase out support for Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto in favor of an in-house system developed with the help of Google.
While at the time, the vehicle manufacturer said it would continue to offer CarPlay in its gas-powered vehicles, it’s now reversed course and shared plans to remove CarPlay compatibility from all of its electric and gas-powered vehicles across its GMC, Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac brands.
In an interview with The Verge, GM CEO Mary Barra said that while the company wanted to prioritize its own infotainment platform for EVs, it will eventually expand across the entire GM vehicle lineup, although she noted the rollout will happen gradually as new models are refreshed.
A lot of it depends on when you do an update to that vehicle. 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. As we move forward with each new vehicle and major new vehicle launch, I think you’re going to see us consistent on that. We made a decision to prioritize our EV vehicles during this timeframe, and as we go forward, we’ll continue across the portfolio.
GM CEO Mary Barra
When asked if users should expect that new gas vehicles will not offer “smartphone projection” for CarPlay or Android Auto, Barra said, “I think that’s the right expectation. Yes.”
That shift won’t just change how drivers connect their phones — it may also change how GM makes money from its dashboards. While GM’s plan for tighter control over its vehicles’ systems will allow it to optimize performance, the move is also undoubtedly driven by GM’s desire to turn its in-car systems into a source of revenue, offering subscriptions for many of the features that Apple offers for free through CarPlay.
In March, the company explained that buyers will get at least a basic level of access free for eight years. However, enhanced services that include access to apps like Spotify and Audible may cost extra. This could mean some drivers end up paying an additional monthly fee to GM to access services they’ve already subscribed to, such as Apple Music.
In the same interview, GM Chief Product Officer Sterling Anderson attempted to justify GM’s decision as something Steve Jobs would have done.
But frankly, it’s a very Jobsian approach to things. The removal of the disk drive, nobody liked that, everybody on the forums and Facebook was complaining about it, but to that he said, ‘Look, guys, flash storage really is the future. Get on board, you’ll see that.’ That’s kind of what we’re saying here, in fact that’s exactly what we’re saying.
Sterling Anderson, GM Chief Product Officer
GM claims that by eliminating CarPlay, it can gain direct access to the information needed for its vehicles, and that a unified option is better for drivers. Anderson says GM’s option offers a “much more immersive environment” that lets users “do so many more things” than CarPlay. Following the initial announcement two years ago, GM also said that it was dropping CarPlay for safety reasons, claiming that both CarPlay and Android Auto contribute to distracted driving by encouraging drivers to pick up their phones more often.
GM’s 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ will mark the start of GM’s broader shift toward putting the automaker in the driver’s seat with a unified software platform that will eventually encompass its entire range of electric and gas-powered vehicles.
