General Motors is making a big mistake by ditching Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
According to a McKinsey study published in September 2023, nearly half of new car buyers would not purchase a vehicle unless it had these features.
GM’s plan to control its screens and data isn’t going to work because people can still use their phones with Bluetooth-enabled FM transmitters.I tried CarPlay for the first time in April with a new Accord. It was great. CarPlay made navigating into Ohio much easier with the big screen.
But you don’t really need it built into the car.I’ve been using CarPlay features in my 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis since November. I bought an $11 Bluetooth FM transmitter and a phone mount.
This setup lets me make calls, send texts, navigate, and listen to music and podcasts with just my voice.It’s not perfect. It doesn’t read texts aloud and has no steering-wheel buttons for calls or tracks. But it’s close enough to the CarPlay experience.
Automakers like GM will struggle if they don’t integrate such technology because everyone already has screens in their pockets.Other carmakers disagree with GM.
They stick with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Ford, for example, is all about giving customers the digital services they want.
Ford’s new system even shows maps from CarPlay and Android Auto in the instrument cluster.CarPlay and Android Auto came about because people didn’t like car manufacturers’ infotainment systems.
