General Motors Opts for Safety, Phases Out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in New Chevy EVs
2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV pioneers Google-based infotainment system, leaving behind Apple and Android smartphone connectivity for enhanced safety.
In a bid to enhance safety and address reliability concerns, General Motors (GM) is taking a bold step by phasing out standalone Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity in its new electric vehicles (EVs). The move is part of GM’s broader strategy to prioritize safety and streamline infotainment systems, starting with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV.
GM’s head of product for infotainment, Tim Babbitt, explained that the decision stems from concerns about stability issues associated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Problems such as slow responses, poor rendering, and dropped connections could potentially lead drivers to pick up their phones while driving—a safety hazard. While GM has not conducted formal tests on this hypothesis, it aims to mitigate these issues with a new Google-based infotainment system.
The new system is designed to make the infotainment experience more stable by incorporating popular smartphone features directly into the vehicle’s interface. For example, Google Maps will be directly accessible, reducing the need for drivers to rely on their phones for navigation.
However, a GM spokesperson clarified that the company values its partnerships with Apple and Google, emphasizing their shared commitment to driver safety. The decision to remove CarPlay and Android Auto will primarily apply to future GM EVs, with the Chevy Equinox EV, Cadillac Celestiq, and GMC Sierra EV following the Blazer EV’s lead. Production delays have affected some of these models’ launch timelines.
While the move is not extended to combustion-engine vehicles, GM’s broader strategy aligns with its commitment to transition most of its lineup to electric vehicles in the coming years. The company aims to eliminate tailpipes from its light-duty vehicles by 2035 and intends to make Buick and Cadillac exclusively electric by the end of the decade.
