General Motors has decided to go a step further and remove CarPlay from more cars, reinforcing a roadmap it launched in 2023 with its electric vehicles. In a recent conversation on Decoder, Nilay Patel's podcast, GM management once again explained why it is taking its own approach to infotainment.
The underlying idea is clear: GM wants an integrated experience in the vehicle and, according to its top management, the projection of the mobile gives ground versus a native system more connected to the car's functions. Furthermore, the company suggests that this movement will gradually extend to more models, including combustion models, as major releases arrive.
Why GM is accelerating the end of CarPlay
GM product director Sterling Anderson called the decision a Jobs-inspired approach: Just as optical drives were removed in the past in favor of flash storage, the aim is now to abandon phone duplication and embrace proprietary software designed for the car.
Anderson used a domestic comparison: on a laptop, almost no one uses a mobile mirror app to check email or social media; they prefer the native device interface for comfort, screen, and control. Translated to the automobile, they argue that the same thing happens when the vehicle offers a well-designed platform.
According to GM, the software built into the dashboard allows you to connect features that CarPlay doesn't fully cover: charging infrastructure, maps with Super Cruise, energy management and other driving-specific services that require deeper coordination between hardware and software.
In this approach, the smartphone projection is perceived as a redundant layer that, in many cases, limits access to car functions or duplicates what is already available. The priority is to reduce dependence on “phone mirroring” and promote a cohesive environment within the vehicle.
Which models will be affected and how will they be deployed?
Until now, the CarPlay withdrawal had applied to the Power Plants announced since March 2023. Mary Barra explained that, due to the size of the portfolio, it was not feasible to do so across the entire range at once, hence the gradual advance.
Asked by Nilay Patel if we should expect the new gasoline models Even without the mobile projection, Barra left the door open: with major rollouts to come, that would be the reasonable expectation. In other words, the intention is to expand the scope of the change beyond EVs.
The calendar has not been detailed down to the last detail, but GM is aiming to win. consistency across the range as upcoming releases arrive. The transition, therefore, will be gradual and linked to product milestones.
Relationship with Apple and alternative functions in the GM ecosystem
Although it is moving away from CarPlay, GM emphasizes that it maintains a good dialogue with the major technology players. Mary Barra announced the arrival of Apple Wallet and Digital Keys compatible with your cars, with the possibility of performing certain vehicle functions from the iPhone.
Regarding entertainment, the company acknowledges that for now There is no news regarding Apple MusicIf added in the future, it could soften the impact of CarPlay's absence on those who use iPhones as a media center.
The interview in the Nilay Patel's Decoder podcast It delves into GM's commitment to its own platform, in which experience control, advanced navigation, and integration with driving assistants outweigh the convenience of replicating a mobile screen.
With this move, GM is pushing for a gradual farewell to CarPlay in favor of a ecosystem integrated into the car which prioritizes native features, updates, and connected services. The real scope of the strategy will be measured by drivers' response and the maturity of the brand's software in the face of deeply entrenched mobile habits.
