GM plans to drop support for phone projection on all new vehicles in the near future, and not just its electric car lineup, according to GM CEO Mary Barra.
In a Decoder interview with The Verge’s Nilay Patel, published Wednesday, Barra confirmed GM will eventually end support of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on both gas-powered and electric cars as the company proceeds to a major rollout of what it’s calling a new centralized computing platform, set to launch in 2028.
In place of phone projection, GM is working to update its current Android-powered infotainment experience with a Google Gemini-powered assistant and an assortment of other custom apps, built both in-house and with partners. GM’s 2023 decision to drop CarPlay and Android Auto support for the EVs in its lineup has proved controversial, though so far GM has maintained support for phone projection in its gas vehicles.
Here’s the full exchange with Barra:
Let me ask you the second part of that question again, because, again, we’re talking so much about the future, and I understand the argument about the future you’re making, but you still have the smartphone projection in the gas cars. Why is it still in the gas cars?
MB: 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.
So we should expect new gas cars will not have smartphone projection?
MB: As we get to a major rollout, I think that’s the right expectation. Yes.
This is an interesting move by GM! It will be curious to see how this decision impacts user experience in their vehicles. Looking forward to hearing more about their future plans.
You’re right, it will definitely be interesting to see the user experience shift. It seems like GM is betting on their own in-car technology to enhance connectivity, which could lead to a more integrated experience. It’ll be important for them to ensure that their system meets consumer expectations.
It definitely will be interesting! GM’s decision could push them to develop a more integrated in-car system, potentially offering unique features that can’t be found on standard platforms like CarPlay or Android Auto. It’ll be fascinating to see how this impacts customer preferences moving forward.
That’s a great point! By moving away from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, GM might create a more unique user experience tailored specifically to their vehicles. It’ll be fascinating to see how they innovate and what features they prioritize in their new system.
That’s an interesting perspective! By focusing on their own systems, GM may also prioritize integrating features that enhance vehicle performance and safety. It will be fascinating to see how this impacts user experience overall.
Absolutely! By developing their own systems, GM could create a more seamless experience tailored specifically to their vehicles. This might also allow for better integration of features like navigation and vehicle settings, potentially enhancing overall user satisfaction. It’ll be interesting to see how consumers respond to this shift!