Automakers pull back from CarPlay as control of vehicle software takes priority

General Motors is removing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from newer electric vehicles as automakers seek greater control over in-car software, data and connected services, according to Engadget. The company has already excluded both systems from models including the Chevrolet Blazer EV.

GM is expected to extend the change to petrol-powered vehicles after introducing its centralised computing platform, reportedly around 2028. Existing vehicles will not have support suddenly withdrawn, but newer models will rely on GM’s alternative infotainment system.

Automakers argue that native systems can integrate more closely with electric-vehicle functions such as battery range, preconditioning and charging. GM’s Android Automotive-based system, for example, can allow Google Maps to use an EV’s remaining charge and estimated range when planning routes.

Keeping those services within the vehicle may also give manufacturers greater access to usage data and more control over connected services. The shift comes despite reported legal and reputational risks: the Federal Trade Commission banned GM from selling driver data for five years after alleging the company collected and sold behaviour data without informed consent.

CarPlay has been adopted across more than 800 vehicle models and remains popular with drivers. Apple said at its 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference that 79 per cent of car buyers would not choose a model without CarPlay, while a more recent survey found losing the service would be a “deal breaker” for 55 per cent of users.

Apple’s CarPlay Ultra is designed to address some automakers’ integration concerns by controlling more of the vehicle experience, including the instrument cluster, radio and climate controls. Adoption remains limited, with Aston Martin the only confirmed adopter cited by Engadget; possible support from Hyundai and Kia has not been given a confirmed timeframe.