Improving the In-Vehicle Navigation Experience for Gas-Powered EVs with Autonomous Vehicles with CarPlay and Android Auto

The decision to phase out CarPlay smartphone projection technology is a setback for Apple in the competition with Google to capture more real estate on vehicle dashboards in North America. GM’s Chevrolet brand in the past boasted of offering more models with CarPlay or Android Auto than any other brand.

GM, which owns brands such as Cadillac, Chevy, GMC, and Buick, isn’t completely cutting off access to CarPlay and Android Auto. Car owners can still use their phones in cars to make and take calls, text, and listen to music. And GM’s gas-powered vehicles will continue to allow CarPlay and Android Auto use.

The decision was motivated by improving the navigation and charging experience for future EV owners. The native software of the vehicle can start warming up the battery so that it is ready for faster charge when an EV owner drives to a charging station.

Edward Kummer, chief digital officer of GM and Mike Hichme, executive director of digital cockpit experience, said in an interview that GM should focus on engineers and invest more in one approach to more closely connect in-vehicle navigation with features such as assisted driving.

New features for driver assistance and navigation will be coming soon, Hichme said. We don’t want to design features that are dependent on a person having a cellphone.

Music and Phones from Subscriptions to the Internet of Things (Major-Baramarda & Kummer)

There are subscription revenue opportunities for us according to Kummer. Mary Barra wants $20 billion to $25 billion in revenue from subscriptions by the year 2030.

The company said that drivers will still be able to listen to music and make phone calls on their phones.