https://www.arenaev.com/gms_carplay_detour_a_smart_drive_or_a_dead_end-news-2106.php
General Motors stirs the waters, trading Apple CarPlay for Google's integrated infotainment system, leaving dealers and customers in a quandary.
No kidding. I remember when I bought my new car in 2011, having Bluetooth was like #3 on my list.
In the end, I bought a great Honda without it. But that was only after I figured out a way to add it aftermarket.
For any car buyer under the age of 50, AA/ACP will be a top item. But we live in a weird world where most of the customers are under 60, but we're broke. So everything is marketed to Boomers, even though they are a minority.
Weird times.
Any newer car not supporting Apple Car Play can fuck right off; I don't need yet another UX and subscription when my phone already handles everything I need and is configured with applications/settings as needed.
The real reason seems to be clear: data and revenue. Like other automakers, GM is looking to monetize data-driven add-on features and services. They're hoping to achieve profit margins of over 20% on "new businesses" by 2030, and the all-new subscription-based infotainment system will play the central part.
This is a familiar approach; every automaker now wants to be the next Netflix of the auto industry, where your car becomes another subscription service.
GM's competitor, Ford, is also vying for a slice of this pie, aiming to create a "software-defined vehicle" with over-the-air updates and paid features.
Oh gawd. I knew things were heading in this direction, but this sounds just horrible. Walled gardens everywhere.
MBAs seem like the most unoriginal people on the planet. Always chasing whatever the latest trend is
I think freemium car features are coming. Such as, car comes with all luxury features but have to subscribe to access them. Heated seats, dashcam, power doors…you better have that premium subscription or they don’t work.
On one hand, fuuuuck that…but on the ooooother hand…I kind of can’t wait to be able to hack my car to get more features for free like unlocking the hidden extra core or cache on old CPUs.
I mean I don’t give a shit about EULAs, if they put it in the car I bought in gonna fucking use it lol.
This business idea / revenue model will get people killed.
This goes a lot deeper than outsiders of this industry can simply imagine.
I still have an old 80s hatch pending electric conversion but I've been getting by with ebike.
I'm perfectly ok ignoring/minimizing my interaction with whatever broken system they install. I'll run bluetooth speakers off the usb ports and continue to use my phone or a tablet to get the functionality I really want. and of course i'll take this into consideration when buying new cars.
they've been trying hard for years to break into this market. EV (and tesla's example) are giving them an excuse to try harder. too much money is on the line.
They wouldn't be doing it if it won't work. Let's face it, the vast majority of consumers will eat this shit up and not bat an eye at the concept. I've been earth long enough to watch products go from 'buy it for life' to today's shit deal of being nickle and dimed for everything. The car subscription model will work and all car manufactures will eventually go the same route; the savvy consumer will eventually no longer have the option to avoid this shit.
I’m not sure. Toyota was famously anti CarPlay and Android Auto, until they reversed the decision a few years back.
I’ve not aware that they ever released a reason, but I was talking to a dealer slightly before this, when I had my 86 in for a fix due to a recall. He asked if I was looking a new model and I told him that CarPlay/Android Auto would a requirement for any new purchase. The dealership was well aware they were losing customers, and I’m sure pressure went up the line to the factory.
I'll stick with my old car where everything works as it should, and predictably so.
I refuse to buy a car that doesn’t have CarPlay. Totally up to the manufacturers it’s really worth losing customers over this.