GM Ditches Apple CarPlay on EVs

Apple Inc.’s CarPlay, the app that allows drivers to use their iPhones through the car’s display, has become a staple in millions of cars and trucks sold each year and a mission-critical feature for some buyers. 

Now, General Motors Co. is ditching the popular app on many of its new electric models, along with a similar one made by Alphabet Inc.’s Google for Android phones, reports The Wall Street Journal. 

GM surprised many in the auto industry when it said earlier this month that it was dropping the apps in favor of new software for the multimedia display. Executives said its software offers more built-in functionality than what drivers can now get through smartphone connections.

GM’s strategy, which aligns with those of Tesla Inc. and other EV makers, is the latest turn in a battle between car and tech companies over a vehicle’s digital real estate and services—a fight with billions of dollars in future revenue at stake. 

The move is a gamble, though, threatening to alienate CarPlay loyalists who use the app exclusively for navigation, listening to music and podcasts, and other tasks, dealers and industry analysts say. GM is using Google’s underlying technology for its new interface, so Android users will still see Google Maps and many familiar features, even though Android Auto won’t be available. 

Auto makers have tried for years to mimic the look and feel of consumer electronics in the car, only to fumble with hard-to-use tech that has irked drivers. Instead, owners have flocked to the more simplified offerings of the tech giants, leaving car executives worried they have lost an important touch point with their customers.

GM finance chief Paul Jacobson said the new GM-specific software will offer a more personalized experience for its drivers. The touch-screen interface will be customized with GM’s own, branded look and features.