GM Blunders So Badly We Thought It Was an April Fool's Joke
General Motors has done something that I think might be a bit dumb. It also had me checking the calendar to make sure it was for real.
The company will drop support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in certain future EVs. Instead, it will use a native Google system.
This will start with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer.
Yes, this means you won't be able to use CarPlay or Android Auto to project your phone onto the infotainment system in future GM EV models.
The replacement system will have Google Maps, Google Assistant, Audible, and Spotify.
From The Verge:
“As a result of this strategic approach, we will be moving beyond phone projection systems, namely Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,” the company said.
The change could help GM better collect data from its drivers and passengers, and it could also be used as a foundation if GM decides to charge for subscription services.
GM claims its navigation and charging systems will improve. One cited benefit: Use the nav system to navigate to a charging system, and the car will start to warm the battery to prime it for faster charging.
Current vehicles, both EV and ICE, won't be affected, and drivers will still be able to use Bluetooth for uses like hands-free calling and streaming music.
[Image: GM]
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Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.
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GM: What a disgrace!
This got Apple Heads all upset. Love it
GM has a habit of F'ing up, but the government is always there to bail them out with our money
Polestar manages to offer a Google-based infotainment system that includes CarPlay. So this is just GM being lazy or helpless.