GM has shelved the only opportunity to bring CarPlay back to its electric cars
Owners of GM's new Ultium-powered electric cars who lost the ability to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto briefly had a chance to get them back thanks to White Automotive Media Services. But GM quickly shut that shop down, forcing the only official dealer that was doing the installation to stop selling and installing the kit.
Here's What We Know
To understand the situation, we need to go back a few months. White Automotive Media Services announced its retrofit kit for using CarPlay and Android Auto in modern GM vehicles last November. It was designed for the Chevrolet Blazer EV, Equinox EV, Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and Cadillac Lyriq. The kit supported wired and wireless connectivity for iPhones as well as Android smartphones, allowing information to be displayed on vehicle infotainment screens, digital dashboards and even projection displays.
Integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into GM vehicles. Illustration: White Automotive White Automotive and Media Services
It was a comprehensive implementation; drivers could even call up Siri or Google Assistant just as if those features were integrated from the factory. There was only one catch: installing the kit was so complex that it required the dealership's service department. But by the time White started taking orders, only one dealer was authorised to do so - LaFontaine Chevrolet in Plymouth, Michigan.
According to The Drive, GM directly instructed the dealer to stop installing White Automotive kits on vehicles. The company said the unauthorised integration could have "impacted critical safety features" and potentially stop working after future software updates. In addition, the installation of third-party equipment could have voided the vehicles' warranty.
When did General Motors abandon Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
General Motors made the controversial decision to drop support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in its next-generation electric cars back in 2023. Instead, the automaker is offering its own software-based smartphone integration solution called Ultifi. At the time, GM justified the decision by stating that Ultifi provides users with a more "deeply integrated interaction experience."
Source: The Drive
