- cross-posted to:
- evs@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- evs@lemmy.world
A big gamble by General Motors (GM) is causing consternation for its dealers in the all-important race to sell cars — namely electric vehicles.
You must log in or register to comment.
Volvo has shown that CarPlay is easily integrated into Android Automotive as an app. I have no idea why GM would alienate so many potential customers by not doing the same.
Integrating Android Auto into Android Automotive is even easier than CarPlay, and GM is dropping it as well. It’s quite literally a built-in feature of Android Automotive that has to be actively removed.
(Just to keep the distinction clear: Android Automotive == A Google Android-based interface for car infotainment, Android Auto == An API for projecting your phone screen and relevant apps to an infotainment display)
It’s 100% about extracting revenue from customers by forcing them to use the manufacturer’s infotainment ecosystem and charge for recurring subscriptions to things your phone will do for free (and in an actually upgradeable manner).
Isn’t it basically just a video stream from the phone with a return stream of tap inputs? How the hell is that hard to implement?
Iirc, it’s been said that the reason for them to ditch CarPlay is so that they can add their own infotainment system where they can charge for subscriptions.
It’s not a technological problem, it’s a “we want to extract every penny out of our customers” problem.
They should be. I sure as hell won’t buy any car that lacks CarPlay.
GM thinks they’ll be able to make an in-house software better than CarPlay and Android Auto… I hope I can eat this words and they make it happen, but seeing the whole car industry trying to change their 100+ years way, has been entertaining.
It’s going to be subscription service. And no way can GM beat Apple or Android at a car interface. This just means I’ll never buy another Chevy again.
Well that’s one way to make sure I never buy a car. If the car does not have Apple CarPlay and the android equivalent I literally won’t buy it. Given if it’s too old to have that technology that’s one thing, then I will still look at it, but if it’s new or newer… yeah no.
In the history of capitalism, the only way that a paid service has become successful over a free service has been to create greater value. GM software engineers vs Apple and Android software engineers? Everyone can see where this is going.
My parents retired from GM, and get a discount on vehicles I can use. So sign me up for a 2024 Chevy Blazer EV. Wait, what? No CarPlay?
We are enjoying our 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 very much, thanks for asking. We especially enjoy the CarPlay integration. :-) It has been disappointing watching GM, year after year, get to the five yard line and then fumble.
This is equivalent of trying to sell a modern TV without support for any smart apps. FOR AN EXTRA CHARGE. Pisses me off that taxpayers will once again have to bail out the failed shitshow that will be a GM backruptcy.
Meanwhile Porsche are developing an even tighter integration allowing you to control parts of the car through the CarPlay interface.
Most manufacturers have apps for managing customer relationships (servicing, vehicle features etc). I’m surprised more manufacturers have not created CarPlay/Android Auto interfaces for these Apps.
Porsche also refused to enable Android Auto on their vehicles for a very long time because Google were making outrageous demands for vehicle telemetry information as part of licensing agreements.
Porsche also refused to enable Android Auto on their vehicles for a very long time because Google were making outrageous demands for vehicle telemetry information as part of licensing agreements.
Did google or Porsche cave in?
Google changed their policy. Porsche consider their vehicle telemetry to be Trade Secret. Porsche also considered that the demographic of customers that deliberately chose Android instead of IOS and wanted to use an in-car interface were not worth the effort.
They have also rolled out CarPlay to most historical vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz original foray into CarPlay was restricted to certain In-Car Entertainment systems, that were only fitted to certain models. They also had issues with Android Auto licensing early on. Early variants could be configured for Android Auto or CarPlay, but not both. This was fixed in a software update about the same time that Porsche resolved their issues with Google.
Man, I’ve driven a Chevy most my life and it makes me a little sad that I’m going to have to switch for my next car.
I guess GM have determined that they will come out ahead by losing potential customers with this move but making more money by going the nickel and dime, subscription service route for the customers they manage to keep.
I suspect they’re wrong.
