The 2024 Chevy Blazer, released in June, marks the first car in General Motors’ electric vehicle fleet to feature a built-in infotainment system developed with Google. In a move that stirred significant discussion, GM announced last spring in an interview with Reuters that it is ditching Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—popular systems that allowed users to bypass the vehicle’s infotainment system. The 2025 Chevy Equinox, set to launch in mid-2024, will also include this new built-in infotainment system.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto enabled users to mirror their smartphone screens on the vehicle’s dashboard display. The new system will still allow Bluetooth connections for hands-free phone calls, voice text messages, and music streaming. However, future GM EVs, including the 2024 Chevy Blazer, will no longer permit phones to bypass the vehicle’s infotainment system to display their screens on the dashboard. While the decision has faced backlash, the long-term impact remains to be seen, and it is uncertain whether other automakers will follow suit.
The 2024 Chevy Blazer features an eight-year connection service through OnStar, emphasizing the need for internet connectivity in such integrated systems. The future of connectivity post-eight years is unclear, but subscription services are likely.
Practically speaking, users will no longer see their phone’s maps or apps on the car’s dashboard display but will instead use integrated maps and apps. Common apps like Spotify and Audible will be available within the infotainment system, replacing the need to use these apps through smartphones while driving.
John Brandon, owner of Gearadical and an automotive field expert since 2010, comments, “It’s a bold move by GM to not support Apple CarPlay in the Equinox EV since it means drivers will need to rely on the built-in apps and services. It’s also not surprising since the car is so high-tech already and does support Amazon Alexa and Google apps without any phone connection required. What GM is trying to do is wean us from our phones while we drive.”
GM sees this move as a significant advantage for electric car drivers, providing “really accurate data around battery health and battery monitoring… almost instantaneously the car is going to plot a route that looks at not just the state of the vehicle, but the state of the chargers along the route.”
Safety concerns also played a role in this decision. Tim Babbitt, GM’s head of product for Infotainment, noted, “When CarPlay and Android Auto have issues, drivers pick up their phones again, taking their eyes off the road and totally defeating the purpose of these phone-mirroring programs.”
A car that can use apps, access Wi-Fi, still make phone calls, and ease electric car driving means less reliance on phones while driving. Additionally, GM’s move allows for the collection of data such as driving and charging habits, a significant profit potential and a frequent point of contention between car companies and tech giants like Google and Apple. Subscription fees are also anticipated. Despite the user benefits touted by GM, the primary motive appears to be profit. If successful, GM projects annual profits of $20 to $25 billion by 2030. Nevertheless, this move is a gamble for GM, and only time will tell if it pays off.