It is an error on the part of General Motors to abandon Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A recent study conducted by McKinsey in September 2023 revealed that nearly half of the respondents who were potential car buyers expressed their reluctance to purchase a vehicle that did not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
GM’s endeavor to regain authority over their screens and the associated data collection is ultimately fruitless, as individuals can easily bypass the OEM systems and resort to using their phones in the traditional manner, aided by Bluetooth-enabled FM transmitters.
My initial encounter with CarPlay occurred in April, during a week-long loan of a new Accord. I was filled with excitement. CarPlay functioned exactly as promised, and the larger dashboard screen of the Accord greatly facilitated navigation into Ohio compared to using my phone. While it is certainly impressive to have CarPlay integrated into the central screen, it is by no means an essential feature.
For several months now, I have been utilizing numerous features of CarPlay in my 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis without the need for any physical interaction. Upon acquiring the car in November of last year, I promptly invested in an affordable Bluetooth FM transmitter priced at $11 and a convenient phone mount. This economical combination has granted me the ability to enjoy a wide range of CarPlay features, including hands-free phone calls, text messaging, navigation, and seamless access to music and podcasts, all effortlessly controlled through voice commands.
While it has its imperfections, this system lacks the ability to audibly read incoming text messages and lacks steering-wheel-mounted controls for ending phone calls or selecting the next track. However, it does provide a comprehensive CarPlay experience, and automakers such as GM who neglect to incorporate this technology will face competition from the screens already present in everyone’s mobile devices.
Various car manufacturers have already made it clear that they are not aligned with GM’s choices, openly reiterating their dedication to the two systems, and with valid justifications.
According to a study conducted by McKinsey, the majority of car owners, specifically eighty-five percent, expressed a preference for CarPlay over the manufacturer’s pre-installed system.
In contrast to GM’s headquarters in Detroit, Ford is adopting a unique strategy. During the 2025 Explorer launch, I had a conversation with Ford product manager Allen Sun to inquire about the measures the company had in place to prevent individuals from solely relying on their smartphones instead of engaging with Ford’s innovative in-car digital interface.
According to him, the key focus is on incorporating the desired digital services that customers seek, such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Ford is expanding this integration in their latest system by directly showcasing maps from both platforms on the instrument cluster.
In response to consumers’ dissatisfaction with automakers’ exclusive infotainment systems, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto emerged as solutions. These widely embraced technologies have become a staple in almost every car available in the American market, delighting consumers who now consider them a standard feature in new vehicles.
While General Motors’ decision to remove Apple CarPlay and Android Auto may not necessarily result in users returning to its proprietary in-car system, it is worth noting that most of CarPlay’s functionalities can still be accessed for a mere $11, or users can opt for the complete touch experience for less than $100.
