Report Examines GM's Controversial Move to Abandon Apple CarPlay

An in-depth Bloomberg report today resurfaced General Motors' decision to replace Apple CarPlay with its own software.

Apple CarPlay Dash
Last year, GM announced that it planned to forgo Apple ‌CarPlay‌ in its new electric vehicles, starting with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV. Instead, the automaker introduced a proprietary infotainment platform, aiming to control and customize the digital experience within its vehicles. This transition is part of GM's strategic pivot toward enhancing its software capabilities and establishing a stronger digital services revenue stream. However, the change has not been without its hurdles, with numerous customers and automotive reviewers reporting technical issues and a steep learning curve associated with the new system.

‌CarPlay‌ has become a staple of most new vehicles, offering drivers a familiar interface that mirrors their iPhone's functionality onto the vehicle's dashboard. Apple reported in 2022 that 79% of car buyers in the U.S. insisted on ‌CarPlay‌ support when considering a new vehicle purchase.

GM's new in-house system, Ultifi, is envisioned as a comprehensive digital platform that offers a range of services such as navigation and media streaming, enhanced by subscription-based add-ons to drive revenue. Despite these aspirations, the rollout of Ultifi has encountered significant obstacles such as software malfunctions that dealerships have struggled to resolve.

GM's move is driven by a wish to reclaim customer connections and data insights from third parties, but customer resistance to abandoning a familiar and popular system like ‌CarPlay‌ that directly integrates with their ‌iPhone‌ poses a significant challenge to GM's strategy.

The outcome of GM's decision could influence future industry practices significantly. If GM can refine Ultifi into a robust, user-friendly platform that rivals or surpasses ‌CarPlay‌'s functionality, it may set a precedent for other automakers to follow suit. Conversely, if consumers continue to prefer established systems like ‌CarPlay‌, automakers may find themselves in a difficult position, needing to balance their corporate interests with consumer preferences.

See Bloomberg's full article for more insights into GM's move to abandon Apple ‌CarPlay‌.

Related Roundup: CarPlay

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Top Rated Comments

Apples Apples Everywhere Avatar
10 months ago
I won’t buy another car without CarPlay, no offense to those who would.

Sorry GM EVs and Tesla.
Score: 147 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Icehawk Avatar
10 months ago
Carplay was the deciding factor when I got my current car vs a couple alternatives. When it comes to traveling,I only rent cars with Carplay. There's enough stress travelling. I don't need to be figuring out the info system too.

GM not supporting Carplay means one less option to consider.
Score: 99 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jayducharme Avatar
10 months ago
I’m one of those who wants CarPlay in my car, so I would never consider purchasing a GM vehicle for that reason. It will be interesting to see if enough other customers feel the same way.
Score: 60 Votes (Like | Disagree)
StudioMacs Avatar
10 months ago

And why don’t let the customers choose their car operating system?

I hope that, despite this, iPhone users will keep enjoying a good integration between their phone and the car operating system.
The reason is GM wants to sell user data and monthly subscriptions.
Score: 57 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klspahr Avatar
10 months ago
No CarPlay, no sale.
Another subscription?? Another rejection!

So much for the customer always being right.
Score: 54 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AMTYVLE Avatar
10 months ago
I just bought a 2024 GMC Sierra and their android based system is very slow. I tap to open Google Maps, Waze, iHeart Radio...all apps were downloaded from the Google Play Store on the infotainment system...the apps take about 10-20 seconds to open.

Using CarPlay is quick and easy. Would be a bad move to get rid of that, IMO.
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)