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GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

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Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

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post #302
post #240

Regardless of whether you prefer Apple or Google, the benefit of phone projection is that you can get a good experience with relatively low specs from the head unit because the heavy lifting is done by the phone which can be upgraded independently of the car. Even powered by Google, the infotainment system is going to age like milk since you’ll be locked into hardware that will be midrange at best, several years old…

I actually got rid of a chevy truck for this precise reason. GMs design choices in their god-awful infotainment system was so annoying I couldn't stand using it. I got rid of that thing within a year and traded it for a F150, which had a significantly better UI and support for apple carplay (even though it required it to be plugged in). Its like nobody ever used their vehicles before they shipped it. Some of my favor…

A daily infuriation for me is that my wife’s 2016 Chevy Equinox does not have a way for you to adjust the default volume of the radio in the firmware for some inexplicable reason. When you power on the vehicle, it’s set to “10” on some arbitrary radio station. There is no way to start the car with the volume muted - you are forced to always have the radio on or turn off the entire unit.

https://www.terrainforum.net/threads/radio-always-comes-on-w...

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#322
post #301

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup. I think the thing most people need to see at this point is that almost every car maker will follow GM at this. They would rather the Google deal where they get a cut of the pie and some control rather than the nothing they get with Carplay/AA.

So this is an anecdote, but… Last summer Apple said 78% of new car buyers want CarPlay. Not “or Android Auto”. CarPlay. (Note: may be US specific, don’t know) Someone tried to look it up and ask around. And the basic idea is that new cars are more expensive than ever and going up. And that means if you’re buying a new car (as opposed to used) you have more money. And, at least in the US, that correlates highly with i…

The OEM I worked for is a luxury brand, and its customers were overwhelmingly iPhone users.

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the data collection part is a surmise from the author.

It's not supposition. Every vehicle that has telematics hardware, regardless of subscription status or options purchased, is sending a near constant stream of location, vehicle, and environmental data back to the manufacturer. The only way to stop it is to disconnect the antenna for the cellular modem or cut its power.

Yeah I noticed this on my 2023 Mazda CX-5. What’s worse - even if you don’t use the MyMazda app, telematics data is still sent to Mazda. Is there a YouTube video series that explains how to rip out these TCU’s?

More on telematics control units:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telematic_control_unit?wprov=s...

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#324
post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All vehicles. Apple announced the total UI takeover option (though I’m not sure if it works today) but no car maker supports it on a shipping vehicle. Many have announced interest but at this point we don’t know if it will ever be available, even if only on some kind of ultra-luxury car.

There’s always the aftermarket. If CarPlay stops being a standard option, that is the first thing I will do with a new car: replace the AV

As cars move away from traditional DIN stuff and more towards multiple screens with no physical “radio” on the dash in the classic sense… is that still an option?

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#326

This sounds like GM is committing brand suicide by actively making itself unappealing to Gen Z. https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/01/06/gen-z-survey-says... I love Android, but I also know how to read.

This isn't actually a problem because Gen-Z can't afford a GM vehicle anyway. The domestic manufacturers have abandoned the affordable vehicle segment to all fight over the high margin luxury business. Even basic pickup trucks are $60k and rotting on dealer lots because the luxury vehicle market just isn't big enough for all of the people who want to be there.

If you listen to HN, GenZ worships bicycles and public transportation and is clamoring to ban cars ASAP when the Boomers and Xers die off.

In fact I’m surprised no one has suggested banning cars on this thread yet. Someone always seems to pop up suggesting that in any thread remotely related to cars.

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#327
post #257

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well CarPlay (and Android Auto) do cut off revenue. Sure, but that revenue stream only exists in a situation where the auto manufacturer has monopoly power (over that particular service). Prior to cell phones, they had that power over navigation and could charge a fee for updated maps (annually via DVD initially). Attempting to subvert the market and create a monopoly here is anti-consumer, anti-competitive, and very…

I agree completely. They’re obviously desperate if they’re trying to turn the clock back 15 years.

The other future path is that all the other OEMs follow suit because they don't want to just make money once in selling hardware - but have a recurring revenue stream.

At the moment GM (and Tesla...) is capacity constrained so no reason to appease customers any more than they need to. Not till you have excess supply. I think GM can take the hit for a year or two and see if other OEMs follow. If not they can always say "whoops, here's an OTA upgrade".

If other OEMs follow what will consumers do - besides mounting their cellphone on their dash.

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#328
post #240

Regardless of whether you prefer Apple or Google, the benefit of phone projection is that you can get a good experience with relatively low specs from the head unit because the heavy lifting is done by the phone which can be upgraded independently of the car. Even powered by Google, the infotainment system is going to age like milk since you’ll be locked into hardware that will be midrange at best, several years old…

These in-dash displays should be universal, with a female USB (C?) port nearby for the user to attach their preferred device.

Same with most desks.

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its only really the models and years where they didn't have immobilizers. He's looking at an EV, it doesn't even have a cut key for starting the car.

A good point. Also worth mentioned that Kias are (apparently) easy to break in to. Twice over the past year my neighborhood has had a group come around and jimmy just the Kias in the neighborhood to steal stuff from inside. I don't live in a high-crime area, either. It's real problem.

This is already what is being discussed.

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#330
post #240

Regardless of whether you prefer Apple or Google, the benefit of phone projection is that you can get a good experience with relatively low specs from the head unit because the heavy lifting is done by the phone which can be upgraded independently of the car. Even powered by Google, the infotainment system is going to age like milk since you’ll be locked into hardware that will be midrange at best, several years old…

I 90% agree, but also, there's a ton of informational & sensors & systems that need control. With physical knobs/dials/switches/buttons disappearing, the main console now has a lot more obligations than just infotainment like it used to, and it's not clear that letting a phone run the show is really viable with what's afoot, given the scope of systems the display has to control. Wait, sorry. It's not clear how we'd g…

> With physical knobs/dials/switches/buttons disappearing

You have identified the problem.

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