General Motors is cutting the cord on two of the most popular car features in America.
On Wednesday, GM CEO Mary Barra said the company will phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across its lineup — even though most drivers consider the tech a must-have.
Both systems, which mirror a driver’s phone interface on the dashboard, let users safely access apps like Google Maps, Messages, and Spotify while driving.
When asked if GM shoppers should expect future cars to come without CarPlay, Barra told The Verge’s Decoder podcast: ‘As we get to a major rollout, I think that’s the right expectation. Yes.’
It’s a massive departure from other major automakers, including the company’s arch-nemesis, Ford — and it’s already sparking backlash online.
‘It’s insane,’ one driver said on Reddit. ‘I would never consider a car that can’t be made to work easily with Google Maps, Spotify, and Patreon.’
GM — which owns Chevy, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC — has been building its own Google-based infotainment system, which has already replaced CarPlay in its EVs.
Models like the Chevy Equinox EV, Cadillac Lyriq, and GMC Hummer EV use built-in Google Maps and on-screen controls for climate, audio, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
GM, the owner of brands like GMC, Cadillac, and Chevy, has already rolled out a series of EVs without Apple CarPLay and Android auto, like the Hummer pictured above. The company’s boss said those features will stop coming to gas cars soon, too
Barra said the change will eventually extend to gas-powered vehicles as well, though there’s no clear timeline for when that will happen.
‘A lot of it depends on when you do an update to that vehicle,’ Barra said. ‘We made a decision to prioritize our EV vehicles during this timeframe, and as we go forward, we’ll continue across the portfolio.’
The announcement comes on the heels of GM’s latest tech reveal. At a private event on Wednesday attended by the Daily Mail, the company detailed plans to launch its first ‘eyes-off’ driving system.
GM also said it’s building out a cheaper computing platform, which is also expected to launch in 2028.
The company didn’t respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment on Barra’s interview.
A few other automakers — notably Tesla and Rivian — have also skipped Apple and Google’s software. But GM’s decision stands out given the company’s size and reach.
Whether drivers are ready for it is another question. A July study by AutoPacific found that more than 60 percent of shoppers wouldn’t buy a car without CarPlay or Android Auto.
Ford, meanwhile, is taking the opposite approach.
GM just unveiled their latest tech advancements, including an ‘eyes off’ driving feature and Apple and Google-less screens
CEO Mary Barra told the Decoder podcast that the CarPlay’s demise ‘depends on when you do an update to that vehicle
Yesterday, the company said its Cadillac Escalade IQ might be able to drive itself in 2028 – the tech behind the new car will also be able to run GM’s own infotainment technology
‘We’re focused on giving our customers what they want, not limiting their choices,’ a Ford spokesperson said.
‘CarPlay 1.0 remains one of the most loved features in our vehicles, and we have no plans to take that away from our customers.’
‘We don’t like the execution of Ultra in round one,’ he said. ‘I’ve talked to Tim Cook many times about this.’
That contrast highlights a growing divide among automakers over how much control Silicon Valley should have over their vehicles.
That deeper integration is creating a new battleground for automakers: either hand over part of their vehicle’s operating system to tech giants — or push them out entirely.
GM, like Tesla and Rivian, is choosing the latter.
