Tech & Auto
Why GM Is Ditching Apple CarPlay & Android Auto For Good
By NADEEM SARWAR
In early 2023, General Motors announced the controversial decision to ditch Apple CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto from its upcoming fleet of electric cars.
GM Chief Tim Babbitt explained to Motor Trend that it had more to do with the safety and reliability of other in-car systems than trying to lock users into their own.
Babbitt cited CarPlay and Android Auto’s stability issues that caused connections to drop and naturally prompted drivers to check their smartphones instead of watching the road.
Instead of these services, GM wants to remove smartphones from the equation with its “Ultifi” in-car infotainment system and hopes it won’t have the same reliability issues.
While several studies confirm GM’s claim that smartphones distract drivers, many other carmakers are putting their trust in Apple and Google.
GM’s solution may be promising, but many consumers are upset that the carmaker is seemingly forcing them to choose its own Ultifi software.