GM is Ditching Apple CarPlay in Future EVs
Joesph White, reporting for Reuters:
General Motors plans to phase out widely-used Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technologies that allow drivers to bypass a vehicle's infotainment systems, shifting instead to built-in infotainment systems developed with Google for future electric vehicles.
[…]
GM's decision to stop offering those systems in future electric vehicles, starting with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer, could help the automaker capture more data on how consumers drive and charge EVs.
Apple engineering manager Emily Schubert said 98% of new cars in the U.S. come with CarPlay installed. She delivered a shocking stat: 79% of U.S. buyers would only buy a car if it supported CarPlay.
“It’s a must-have feature when shopping for a new vehicle,” Schubert said
Given that Android has 47% of the smartphone marketshare in the US, that stat doesn’t seem right. But when you consider the fact that wealthier people are the ones buying most of the new cars, and wealthy people tend to prefer iPhones, I don’t think this stat is too far off at all.
Given that, this move by GM sure sounds like they’re shooting themselves in the foot for.. what? Data collection? Hubris? Unclear.