Automakers are abandoning Apple CarPlay support, turning to their own software

Automakers are stepping back on Apple CarPlay support. So, why are brands turning to their own software? Here are the details.

Apple CarPlay has been a popular alternative for over a decade, offering drivers the ability to mirror their smartphones onto their vehicle screens. However, recently, many automobile manufacturers have been making strategic changes regarding the Apple CarPlay support they offer in their vehicles.

This system, which provides great convenience for drivers, restricts manufacturers' control over in-car software and data. This situation creates an important breaking point in the automotive industry, especially with the spread of electric vehicles.

Software Strategy of Automobile Manufacturers

As a pioneer of this change, General Motors is gradually removing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support from its new electric models. The company prefers to focus on its own software platform in its new generation vehicles such as the Chevrolet Blazer EV.

Automakers no longer want in-car systems to be just a screen mirroring tool. Critical features such as battery preconditioning and charging management in electric vehicles need to be deeply integrated with the vehicle's own software.

At this point, GM is using the General Motors Android Automotive platform, which is Google's independent vehicle operating system. Thanks to this system, navigation applications can directly calculate the remaining range and charge status of the vehicle.

Company executives state that they do not want the in-car experience to remain dependent on a mobile phone. This approach allows manufacturers to more closely track driver data and create new revenue models through connected services.

However, this situation also raises some questions about data privacy. The FTC had previously imposed sanctions against General Motors, accusing it of collecting and selling driver data without permission.

Apple CarPlay and Future Vision

Apple responds to these criticisms of manufacturers with CarPlay Ultra features. This new version not only mirrors phone applications but also provides access to the vehicle's critical systems such as speedometer and climate controls.

CarPlay Ultra aims to provide a more integrated experience by covering all screens of the vehicle. However, this solution does not fully address manufacturers' concerns about phone addiction, as it still requires an iPhone device.

Manufacturers may be reluctant to share data with Apple and cooperate in software development processes. For this reason, the adoption process of CarPlay Ultra is currently progressing very slowly.

Although some brands such as Aston Martin support this technology, most major manufacturers prefer to build their own software ecosystems. For drivers, this means the loss of a standard interface experience that they have been accustomed to for years.

Apple stated in its statement in 2022 that 79 percent of vehicle buyers would not prefer a model without CarPlay support. Current research reveals that more than half of the users see the loss of this support as a reason to give up.