Basic Motors’ Ultium platform vehicles — a.okay.a., most the EVs from Cadillac, GMC, and Chevy — relatively famously don’t have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. That is even supposing the majority of the carmaker’s gasoline-powered vehicles nonetheless get these second-party integrations from Google/Apple.
Nicely, a intelligent third-party supplier referred to as White Automotive and Media Companies, till only in the near past, provided a workaround for that. They might retrofit your non-Apple CarPlay rig with the phone-app interface. If, that’s, you would present up on the solely vendor within the nation that was putting in it, LaFontaine Chevrolet in Plymouth, Michigan. However not anymore. How did all this occur within the first place?
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV
- Horsepower
-
213 HP (FWD) / 288 HP (AWD)
- Torque
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236 LB-FT (FWD) / 333 LB-FT (AWD)
- Driveline
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FWD/AWD
- Vary
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319 mi.
- Beginning Worth (MSRP)
-
$41,900
Associated
This “idea” truck encompasses a host of massive upgrades that make it an off-road beast.
Basic Motors Has Its Causes — Simply Like Tesla, And Rivian
The logic, which we’ve reported on earlier than, is that EV’s aren’t fuel vehicles. They’re extra like digital equipment. As such, their instrumentation, and actually, their whole operation, is digital. As Tesla has famously vetoed third-party instrument panel apps, Basic Motors determined to comply with swimsuit.
Heck, Rivian’s in the identical camp, and Polestar got here out of the gate as an Android Automotive-based system, with out CarPlay. You possibly can nonetheless pair your cellphone for audio features through Bluetooth, obtain calls, and so on. In different phrases, it’s life earlier than Android Auto and CarPlay had been invented. And by some means, that labored.
Why Carmakers Are Nonetheless Battling
This isn’t merely a GM downside. Based on a 2023 McKinsey and Firm survey, practically half of all patrons need Android Auto/Apple CarPlay of their vehicles.
They usually need it as a primary, not a premium characteristic. And practically half additionally stated they wouldn’t purchase a automobile with out it. Most damning: 85 % of automobile homeowners say Apple CarPlay (or an analogous service) is healthier than the carmakers’ native digital system.
And it will get worse, as a result of in comparison with gasoline-car patrons, even extra EV patrons contemplate these phone-based setups important to automobile possession.
Why The Aftermarket Answer Failed
GM Authority quotes the aftermarket supplier, White Automotive, who stated that they reduce the service, however “…this was not a call we made frivolously, however on account of a wide range of elements, persevering with to supply this product is now not viable in the long run.” The product apparently labored like a manufacturing facility CarPlay head unit, each wirelessly and wired. And FYI, there already are aftermarket CarPlay setups that you could add to most vehicles, that work like they’d in a manufacturing system.
However as a result of White Automotive’s resolution actually required recoding GM’s manufacturing facility instrumentation, we’re not shocked {that a} GM spokesperson informed the location, TheDrive, the next:
“Aftermarket companies that introduce options not initially designed, completely examined, and permitted by GM might trigger unintended points for purchasers. These points may have an effect on essential security options and may void parts of the automobile’s guarantee.”
TopSpeed’s Take
Cynically, you’ll be able to argue that GM needs to promote clients native apps for his or her vehicles. This isn’t even cynical — it’s apparent. Carmakers have brazenly touted the flexibility to promote buying and different companies by means of their automobiles. And if the automobile is the “storefront,” carmakers need to monetize it. They usually additionally need to get out of the position of solely being retailers, which is Rivian’s present gameplan, it appears.
GM’s Argument Makes Sense, Although
This isn’t dumb, it’s simply laborious. The explanation we like our native interface (a.okay.a., that factor that you simply faucet and swipe 50,000 instances a day) is as a result of it appears practically intuitive, and carmakers have an inherent battle, for the reason that “interface” is the world we’re driving by means of and our consideration ought to actually be on that, not on a display. Telephones and tablets weren’t designed for divided consideration. They’re designed for full consideration.
Successful this — in order that we don’t die behind the wheel — might be discovering some center floor. And, you realize what? Volkswagen has a easy resolution at the least: bringing again bodily buttons. It’s revolutionary! Or … it’s nakedly apparent.