GM is Eliminating Apple CarPlay + Android Auto so they can Charge You Fees for Programming

[Melensdad]

This would simply eliminate me as a potential customer. In fact I made sure the last 2 vehicles I purchased specifically included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It was one of the "deal breaker" factors on the vehicles. If it was not built in I simply eliminate the vehicle from my list of choices.

My wife doesn't use either. She also doesn't care to learn to use the navigation system on her vehicle. She basically drives in silence and is happy with that. But I drive over 20,000 miles a year, often to places I don't know, so I rely on Apple Maps for navigation. By selecting cars that use CarPlay/Android Auto, even when I use a rental car, I always know exactly how to use the navigation system because it is always the same, no matter what brand of car I am driving. So if it is not built in, I simply won't buy it or rent it.

I know I am not alone in this attitude and I believe that GM, by following this path, will lose customers.

But GM's logic is they will create a seamless environment that integrates everything and then they will earn income from the various services that they provide. If you want weather, rather than using a APP in your CarPlay, you will pay GM for weather reports. If you want navigation, they will charge for that. If you want to listen to podcasts, well hell, you get to pay a fee for that too. And AudioBooks, yup, chalk up another subscription. And when you sell or trade in the car, the new owner gets to pay for those features too.

Other car makers may follow suit, and Mercedes said the same thing.

I think, long term, they will all come to the universal conclusion that they royally f**ked up.

GM is eliminating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from all vehicles — here’s the real reason why

Many motorists took to social media to express anger over the announcement, with some saying it was nothing more than a cash grab by the car company.

nypost.com

GM is eliminating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from all vehicles — here’s the real reason why​

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Published Oct. 25, 2025, 10:17 a.m. ET​

General Motors is eliminating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from all future vehicles – and it’s already maddening motorists. ​

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The surprising announcement was made earlier this week by CEO Mary Barra, who claimed the company will completely phase out the popular systems from its entire fleet of electric and gas-powered cars over the next few years. ​

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In their place will be GM’s own built-in interface, powered by Google’s Android Automotive OS, with Barra arguing in an interview with The Verge that it will allow for “a smoother, safer, and more unified user experience.”​

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GM has already begun rolling out its own system in some of their EVs, but currently continues to offer CarPlay and Android Auto in 34 of 40 models across its brands, per Newsweek. ​

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According to AutoBlog, “GM’s long-term goal is to turn its vehicles into ‘software-defined platforms,’ unlocking revenue from subscriptions and in-car services.”​

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General Motors is eliminating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from all future vehicles – and it’s already maddening motorists. Bloomberg via Getty Images​

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Apple CarPlay is pictured. The popular infotainment system is used by millions of drivers who use maps and listen to music. Harry – stock.adobe.com​

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Many motorists took to social media to express anger over the announcement, with some saying it was nothing more than a cash grab by the car company. ​

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“Another really dumb decision by a US automaker (and I own GM products),” one fumed. “NO ONE wants a captive ‘GM’ system for apps and navigation. We know it will suck and they will upcharge it $2,000 on every car.”​

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“Here comes subscriptions to turn your car on,” another snarked. ​

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“No longer can you get a vehicle without some sort of subscription being shoved down your throat,” a third X user raged. “Remote start is no longer on the fob. Next up, no more Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. If this trend continues, both apps will be discontinued completely.”​

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General Motors Mary Barra is pictred. REUTERS​

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However, GM isn’t the only automaker implementing its own interface. ​

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Mercedes-Benz recently introduced its own operating system in its new CLA model, while Audi also has its own interface. ​

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According to the Daily Mail, Ford, Toyota, and Volvo are also “developing their own [independent] software ecosystems.”​

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However, a GM spokesperson told that publication that Barra’s announcement shouldn’t spook current GM owners. ​

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“We are not making any changes to existing vehicles,” the spokesperson said. “If your car supports Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, that will continue.”​

 

[waybomb]

I'm so glad I have all these old cars.

 

[Kevlar]

They are just going the same route as ag equipment, only 10 years behind.

 

[Melensdad]

I'm so glad I have all these old cars.

Pretty easy to add CarPlay and AndroidAuto to an old car.

My guess is that GM and MB are going to make it hard to add it to a new car. F' them.

 

[waybomb]

I heard that many recent cars will be updated to new software that will also eliminate these on cars that currently use them.

 

[Doc]

I added carplay to my truck via cig lighter plug. Simple. Hard to imagine how GM or any of them could prevent that.
It works okay but I do have an issue with it.
I like Sirius radio. On a trip I put the radio on Sirius then the carplay unit does not speak directions over the radio or anything since I am playing something on the stereo. I've then used Sirius on my phone via carplay but the reception is not as good. I loose signal way to often.

 

[Melensdad]

I added carplay to my truck via cig lighter plug. Simple. Hard to imagine how GM or any of them could prevent that.
It works okay but I do have an issue with it.
I like Sirius radio. On a trip I put the radio on Sirius then the carplay unit does not speak directions over the radio or anything since I am playing something on the stereo. I've then used Sirius on my phone via carplay but the reception is not as good. I loose signal way to often.

If CarPlay/Android Auto are built in, you can use Sirius and not lose the navigation audio.

 

[bczoom]

I never liked GM's OnStar.
You had to call them on the phone to get them to download you map directions. On top of that, it's a pay service. I'll just use Waze or an old school GPS.

 

[NorthernRedneck]

I'm old school. The 2010 buick we recently bought had a new touch screen deck installed but it wasn't done correctly. The original deck was in the trunk. I reinstalled it. As long as it makes noise, I'm happy. I have the navigation etc in my truck. It works alright.

 

[Melensdad]

I never liked GM's OnStar.
You had to call them on the phone to get them to download you map directions. On top of that, it's a pay service. I'll just use Waze or an old school GPS.

WAZE works right through CarPlay/Android Auto but plays through your speaker system and displays on the bigger screen on the dashboard.

The beauty of CarPlay/Android Auto is that you can totally customize them with your choice of Apps. So if you want WAZE, or Google Maps or Apple Maps or whatever they work. And you don't have to learn the protocols for each different car you drive, you just learn your App and it works the same in every car with CarPlay/Android Auto.

I'm old school. The 2010 buick we recently bought had a new touch screen deck installed but it wasn't done correctly. The original deck was in the trunk. I reinstalled it. As long as it makes noise, I'm happy. I have the navigation etc in my truck. It works alright.

I think I've hade built in navigation in every one of my vehicles since at least 2010. The problem is the maps are hard coded into the systems. Most of the older systems also don't have live traffic updates, live detours, accidents, etc. All of these things are built into the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto systems, everything is updated and many actually use live updates so an accident that happens 15 minutes in front of you can pop up with a detour so you can get around it.

 

[bczoom]

My truck is a bit older (2016) and doesn't have carplay/android.
Only if the existing head quits would I replace it with those options.
I added a couple thousand $ worth of stereo speakers/amps/woofers/signal processor... to it years ago. I don't know what the wiring even looks like under the dash so not sure if I could get a plug-and-play unit.