GM discontinuing CarPlay, Android Auto

[jkernitzki]

From Motor Trend: https://www.motortrend.com/news/no-more-apple-carplay-or-android-auto-for-any-gm-vehicles-gas-or-electric

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[DWG]

And if not already I would bet there will be an annual subscription for navigation. If GM's proprietary system will be that good maybe most consumers will not want to use their Apple Car Play or Android Auto but to take the choice away is an option deletion too far.

Even worse I would bet that it is only a matter of time before other manufacturers follow.

 

[jkernitzki]

And if not already I would bet there will be an annual subscription for navigation. If GM's proprietary system will be that good maybe most consumers will not want to use their Apple Car Play or Android Auto but to take the choice away is an option deletion too far.

Even worse I would bet that it is only a matter of time before other manufacturers follow.

For what it’s worth, in response Ford announced they intend to keep both, citing customer preference and choice.

 

[DWG]

For what it’s worth, in response Ford announced they intend to keep both, citing customer preference and choice.

Thank you for that information. This was the first thought that came to me. Even though I have navigation in my Ford's I have come to appreciate Apple Car Play for navigation. I find that it is a little easier to understand the directions by giving you more of an advanced warning of when to make a turn.

 

[dwrufus53]

And if not already I would bet there will be an annual subscription for navigation. If GM's proprietary system will be that good maybe most consumers will not want to use their Apple Car Play or Android Auto but to take the choice away is an option deletion too far.

Even worse I would bet that it is only a matter of time before other manufacturers follow.

It's an absolute money grab from the morons at GM. I've been a Ford guy for most of my adult life, and would most likely never consider a GM vehicle. But I promise you that I will never own another vehicle without CarPlay.

GM is looking to cash in on subscription revenue from whatever "service" they offer. I remember my son getting invoices from Nissan offering a $299 "upgrade" to their navigation maps. No thanks.

https://fordauthority.com/2025/10/ford-rival-gm-will-drop-apple-carplay-android-auto-from-all-models/

Meanwhile, Ford owners can take solace in the fact that they won't be losing this functionality, at least, not anytime soon.

 

[jason202]

GM fails to understand that yes, people really will choose a different brand over the lack of CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility.

I wouldn't even call myself a "Ford guy," but having owned two Fords over the last 15 years, and having had the displeasure of renting a handful of Chevys recently, the difference in perceptible quality between the two is night and day. Chevy cars just feel super cheap. At least Ford makes an effort to give their lower end vehicles a solid, quality feel.

 

[DWG]

It's an absolute money grab from the morons at GM. I've been a Ford guy for most of my adult life, and would most likely never consider a GM vehicle. But I promise you that I will never own another vehicle without CarPlay.

GM is looking to cash in on subscription revenue from whatever "service" they offer. I remember my son getting invoices from Nissan offering a $299 "upgrade" to their navigation maps. No thanks.

https://fordauthority.com/2025/10/ford-rival-gm-will-drop-apple-carplay-android-auto-from-all-models/

Yes, like their OnStar. No thank you.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

You want to find the truth in anything, follow the $.

There is a reason why Google pays Apple $20B (billion with a B) a year to be the default search engine.

GM gets zero out of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, but has the added burden of development and support costs.

GM is switching to Android Automotive for one single reason. Google is likely paying GM billions to be the exclusive platform for future vehicles in exchange for being able to monetize customer data.

Your vehicle will become a captive audience rolling billboard. All predicted by the Mike Judge film Idiocracy.




You can't even pump gas without getting bombarded with ads.

Don't take my word for it. Just watch Lon's video on what smart TVs are doing.

 

[Ernest T]

The way ford is dropping previously provided features, I wouldn’t be surprised if they drop apple CarPlay too. I don’t use it in my F150, but I’m really liking the wireless connection in the bronco sport.

 

[NHD96]

GM is switching to Android Automotive for one single reason. Google is likely paying GM billions to be the exclusive platform for future vehicles in exchange for being able to monetize customer data.

Ford is also transitioning its vehicles to a media system based on Android Automotive, called Ford Digital Experience. However, support for CarPlay and Android Auto remains.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Ford is also transitioning its vehicles to a media system based on Android Automotive, called Ford Digital Experience. However, support for CarPlay and Android Auto remains.

Marvelous.

Sync 4 is based on QNX. In spite of BB's previous missteps, at least they are committed to safety and security after acquiring QNX.

Sync 3 is Windows Embedded Automotive.

A colleague has a current GM product with AA/CP support. He says CP support is a POS. Keeps crashing, disconnecting. He says he will never buy another GM vehicle ever again. Hopefully, Ford does not leave customers with a similar experience.

Feature / Aspect	QNX (by BlackBerry)	Android Automotive OS (by Google)
Core Purpose	Real-time OS for safety-critical vehicle systems	Infotainment platform for user-facing experiences
System Type	Microkernel-based RTOS	Linux-based OS built on Android
Primary Use Cases	ADAS, digital instrument clusters, ECUs	Navigation, media, voice assistant, app ecosystem
Safety Certification	ISO 26262 ASIL D (highest automotive safety level)	Not designed for functional safety compliance
Reliability	Extremely high fault tolerance and uptime	Reliable for infotainment, not for critical systems
Security Focus	Strong isolation, secure kernel, minimal attack surface	App sandboxing, user data privacy
UI/UX Capabilities	Limited; requires custom development	Rich UI framework, supports third-party apps
Developer Ecosystem	Niche, specialized	Large global Android developer community
Integration with Google	None	Deep integration with Google Maps, Assistant, Play Store
OEM Adoption	Audi, BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz (for control systems)	Volvo, Polestar, GM, Renault (for infotainment)
App Support	Minimal	Full Android app support
Real-Time Capabilities	Yes	No
Modularity	Highly modular, supports multiple domains	Modular for infotainment, less so for safety
Market Trend	Stable in embedded systems	Rapid growth in infotainment adoption
Hybrid Use	Often used alongside AAOS in dual-stack architecture	Often paired with QNX for safety-critical functions

Monetizing the In-Car Experience

• Data ownership and monetization: Automakers want to own the customer relationship and the data that comes with it. Android Automotive (especially when used without Google Automotive Services) allows them to collect and analyze user behavior, preferences, and driving patterns — data that can be used to improve products or sold to third parties MotorTrend.
• Subscription revenue: By controlling the infotainment platform, automakers can offer their own services — like navigation, entertainment, or advanced driver assistance — as paid subscriptions. This is a major shift from the traditional one-time vehicle sale model to a recurring revenue model USA Today Benzinga.

More Integrated and Customizable Software

• First-party control: Unlike QNX, which is a general-purpose OS, Android Automotive is purpose-built for vehicles and allows deeper integration with vehicle systems. Automakers can customize the interface and features while still benefiting from a modern app ecosystem spglobal.com.
• Google services (optional): Some automakers license Google Automotive Services (GAS), which includes Google Maps, Assistant, and Play Store. Others use Android Automotive without GAS to avoid ceding control to Google — but still benefit from the open-source platform spglobal.com.

Moving Away from Phone Projection (CarPlay/Android Auto)

• Avoiding third-party dominance: Systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto rely on the user’s phone and data plan, limiting the automaker’s ability to monetize the experience. By removing these and using Android Automotive, automakers keep users within their own ecosystem MotorTrend USA Today Autoblog.
• Unified user experience: Automakers argue that a native system is safer and more seamless than phone projection, especially as vehicles become more autonomous and software-defined Benzinga.

 

[Dude]

Sync 3.4 is based on QNX, Sync 4 continued to use QNX

(Sync 1 and Sync 2 (MyFord Touch): The first two generations of Sync were built on Microsoft's Windows Embedded Automotive operating system)

 

[jkernitzki]

Good take:

 

[Wotan]

I don't know how all of this is going to work, But I am guessing GMC is underestimating people's attachment to their cell phone. I don't see whatever is offered will be better than CarPlay.

 

[rugedraw]

Ford is also transitioning its vehicles to a media system based on Android Automotive, called Ford Digital Experience. However, support for CarPlay and Android Auto remains.

This is the one and only thing that will convince me to trade in my 2021 F150 for a new one. Sure, I am biased because I have been team Android since day one and have never owned an Apple product, but if/when the F150 is redesigned, they do anything remotely close to this, they can have all my money.

I have been following the XDA forums to see if anyone figures out a way to get into the system, and so far, they figured out you can enable developer options and side-load applications into it. Naviks already makes an in-motion bypass harness for this new system, so you can do whatever you want even while driving. It already has youtube built in, but you can also side-load the app for Netflix and anything else you want. If this comes to the F150, I will be the first one calling the dealer I used to work at to custom order one.

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