GM software bosses still think it's smart to ditch apple CarPlay

Anyone who uses Apple CarPlay frequently will know the inconvenience of having to exit the CarPlay interface to adjust certain vehicle features and undo it when you return to use the app on a connected iPhone.

Seamless is one of the reasons why General Motors decided last year to ditch both CarPlay and a similar Android Auto smartphone mirroring system in favor of its own system with Google built-in 1.

GM also said it made the decision because of safety concerns, drivers could start using real phones if CarPlay or Android Auto drops out or slows down.

More than a year after GM made the decision to ditch the system, Baris Cetinok, the head of software for GM's entire lineup of carmakers, revealed in an interview on The Verge's decoder podcast released on Monday that GM was still happy with the decision.

Cetinok, who previously worked for Apple and was not at GM when the decision was made, said another important reason to deploy in-house systems is to allow automakers to have more control over the user experience and to deploy new features more quickly, especially when these features are unrelated to phone features, for example, specific car-related features.1 He said it was important to make sure that the government was able to ensure the safety of the public. This is one of the main reasons why EV startup Rivian is also struggling to develop its own software system.1

Even with the problems of CarPlay and Android Auto, the popularity of mirroring systems on both smartphones continues to grow, and some buyers may even make vehicle purchases based on the availability of either system. In a 2022 interview with CNBC, Emily Schubert, Apple's engineering manager, said that 79% of U.S. buyers will only buy vehicles if they support CarPlay.

And now Apple wants to further control the vehicle with its next-generation CarPlay system, which it previewed on May 6. The new system extends beyond the infotainment screen to the digital gauge cluster as well as other screens on the dash, as the manufacturer allows. It also provides an app that allows users to control a variety of vehicle functions, eliminating the need to switch in and out of the system.