[RahulNagaraj]

General Motors will drop both Android Auto & Apple CarPlay systems across all its models & replace them with an in-house developed connected tech. As per reports, General Motors claims that both Apple & Android's connected tech cause safety issues.



Tim Babbit, GM's head of product for Infotainment, stated that the company feels that Android Auto and Apple Carplay encourage drivers to use their cell phones while behind the wheel. Both GM & Babbit think that if a car's in-built infotainment is good, drivers are less likely to use their phones for what they are trying to do when driving. Having said that, Babbit admits that this thinking hasn't been tested in any controlled environment to check whether or not it's true.

General Motors will be unveiling its new in-house developed system, called Ultifi. The new in-house developed infotainment system will debut on the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV. The new system comes with Google Maps with Assistant built into the system itself. The new tech will also be able to handle calls and texts while also controlling audio and climate systems.

Source: MotorTrend

Link to Team-BHP news

[Jeroen]

A terrible idea! If there is one thing the automotive industry demonstrates everyday is the fact they have no clue when it comes to developing cutting edge electronic and software based systems.

It is beyond me, why GM would think they are capable and have the knowledge, competence and experience to design something that would give us a better user experience than the likes such as Android and or Apple play systems.

Jeroen

[lina]

Has to be the stupidest thing I have read. Infact cars without car-play/android-auto are a safety risk because people are fiddling with their phones for maps, calling, music etc. With CP and AA you dont need to use your phone

[anandhsub]

If any Android Auto makes your phone completely useless once connected.

You cant even open Maps on mobile if connected to android auto, and neither can you try and take calls from phone.

Only thing you can still do from phone is text on whatsapp, and even that is easier to do voice replies from the infotainment system itself.

Many times when I have left my phone in the car since the connection to android auto is so seamless that you forget you even carried your phone.

[quickdraw]

Ofcourse, GM a car maker thinks they can build better software than Google & Apple

[enj0y_ride]

Worst idea. This is going to increase phone distraction in GM cars. More and more consumers will start using phones while driving. Even if GM believes, the UX for carplay and AA is bad, those atleast helped in minimizing handheld distractions.
They themsleves agree they dont have any empirical data.

[Cresterk]

Ah yes, this is totally for your safety, guys. Not because we don't want to pay the licensing fees or anything. Not at all because we want to make our own proprietary systems and then charge you to load apps or updated maps. Totally a safety thing.

[Pontiac]

They are just following Tesla which don't offer CarPlay/Android Auto but instead charges $10 per month to have similar feature available on their cars.

If they follow the lead, next will be HomeLink, a feature available by default on any car nowadays but Tesla charges $300 to 'enable' the software.

[sandeepmdas]

Originally Posted by RahulNagaraj

General Motors will drop both Android Auto & Apple CarPlay systems across all its models & replace them with an in-house developed connected tech. As per reports, General Motors claims that both Apple & Android's connected tech cause safety issues.

Not flaming you RahulNagaraj. Thanks for starting this thread.

Both Apple and Google are using connected tech, so is the upcoming GM app. What difference in safety is GM planning to bring then? Maybe their app will connect only when the car is doing between 0-10mph?

As many have pointed out, this is just another plan cooked up by the suit-boot guys of GM to get more $$$ per car as subscription or maintenance charge whatever. I know both Apple and Google are not managed by Lungiwallahs either, but they have a stellar reputation and true market leadership in software engineering.

[fiat_tarun]

I absolutely love Android Auto and my use case is maps, music and calls, so if GM is able to have this integration done well it may not be a bad idea.

What I find surprising is why they would want to invest money in this space when there is an already accepted solution in the market !

[buzzy_boy]

Polestar uses Native Android on its cars. That is the right way to go. Reasons = wired/wireless connectivity from the phone to a car is a problem ridden area, and many manufactures still don't get it absolutely right.

[Apolo4409]

Originally Posted by sandeepmdas

Maybe their app will connect only when the car is doing between 0-10mph?

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t Android Auto and CarPlay have this safety mechanism already? I seem to remember having to stop the car to enable them instead of my co passenger doing it while the car was moving.

GM’s idea is one that could put them in the grave for good. A lot of people these days look for Android Auto and CarPlay availability when buying cars and taking it out completely is definitely gonna turn away a lot of customers.

No automaker has perfected the infotainment use technique in all these years to where we feel natural using them. There is always something that makes it awkward to use. CarPlay and Android Auto allows us to set up our navigation and music before we get in the car and it will take that up as soon as we plug in the car, allowing us to avoid having to fidget around in the car. I can’t wrap my head around the “safety issues” caused by this. Android Auto won’t even let you use the on screen keyboard let alone the phone when the car is in motion.

[xorrmancer]

The game here is about owning customer data. If Google/Apple own the system, they own data about car location movements, music choices which is invaluable and GM gets nothing. If GM starts making their own, they would have a tresure trove info about millions of car users. Safety is a just charade to hide behind this reason.
Its just like each TV manufacturers at the start tried having their own OS, to own data, app store and ad space on their tv. They ofcourse weren't that good as tech wasn't their core competency. Slowly the consolidation happened and most TVs are Android now.
GM will falter and learn but at the cost of inconvenience and bad experience to their customers.

[PreludeSH]

Not sure what features they will provide, and if car users consider that they are all they need. Users want their phones to continue inside their car. How much of that will still be available with GMs implementation will be key.

Coming to expertise, just hire couple of people from Apple and Google and you are set. Talent follows money. There is lot of open software and is not that difficult to integrate if you can put money.

[HereticHermit]

QNX open screen project.
I would trust GM or any car maker associated with BlackBerry backed project rather than android or Apple.
As someone famously said "if it is free than, you are the product".