For years we have become accustomed to getting in the car, plugging in our mobile phone and having our information displayed on the dashboard screen map appsEnjoy music and messaging thanks to Android Auto and Apple CarPlaySo much so, that many drivers now ask about these features even before asking about engine power or trunk size.
That comfortable landscape is beginning to change. Some major manufacturers, with General Motors leading the way, have decided to put an expiration date on CarPlay and Android Auto. In their new models, they are betting on their own platforms based on Android Automotive and artificial intelligence assistants like Google Gemini. This shift goes far beyond mere technology and has much to do with data control, business, and even the future of traditional in-car radio.
General Motors distances itself: goodbye to CarPlay and Android Auto
The big shake-up comes from General Motors (GM), the American giant that owns brands such as Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMCThe company had already begun removing CarPlay and Android Auto from part of its electric range, but has now confirmed that the removal will be total and will also affect combustion engine cars.
Mary Barra, CEO of GM, explained in an interview with The Verge that the company is working on a new centralized computing platform that will debut in 2028This architecture will unify all the digital aspects of the vehicle, and with its arrival, new models will no longer offer the classic smartphone projection on the screen.
According to Barra, the official reason is that Switching between the car's native system and CarPlay or Android Auto is cumbersome and can even be distracting.Based on that premise, GM wants the driver to do everything from a single environment, without having to switch interfaces while driving.
In practice, this means that GM cars will gradually lose compatibility with both mobile systems as Each model is renewed according to its own update cycle.With more than forty vehicles in its catalog, the process will be phased in, but the direction is clear: GM's future does not lie in depending on Apple or Google to show what's on your mobile phone.
Vehicles that have already been sold or those that still offer these features today. They will maintain CarPlay and Android Auto until they change generationThe cut will come with new releases and major restylings, starting with iconic models like the Cadillac Escalade IQ.
A proprietary ecosystem based on Android Automotive and Google Gemini
The key to this strategy is that GM isn't going to leave the car's screen bare. Instead of projecting the phone's screen, The brand is building its own ecosystem on Android Automotive, an Android version designed to work directly in the vehicle, without the need for a smartphone.
Based on that, GM will integrate a advanced assistant powered by Google GeminiIt's capable of understanding complex voice commands and interacting with various car functions. The idea is that the driver can request routes, change the music, or adjust driving settings without touching the phone, or even looking at it.
This system will allow access to services such as Google Maps, Spotify, or YouTube Music directly from the media center, Using the vehicle's own data connectionIn some cases, support for tools like Apple Wallet is even mentioned, but always executed from the car's software, not as a simple "mirrored screen" of the mobile phone.
GM insists it does not intend to confine the user to a walled garden. Sterling Anderson, the company's new head of product, has argued that They will continue to use Google Automotive services with access to the Play Storeallowing you to download a good number of applications and expanding the catalog over time.
The big difference is that the center of gravity will no longer be the smartphone, but the car. The vehicle itself will provide the apps and the digital experience.and the phone will be relegated to more basic functions, such as calls or Bluetooth audio playbackespecially for iPhone users, who will lose CarPlay.
Data control, business, and subscriptions: what's behind the change
Beyond the official discourse on safety and simplicity, it is taken for granted in the industry that The main underlying motive is control of the digital ecosystem and user data.While the car experience depends on the mobile phone, much of the information about your driving habits, routes, musical tastes or usage patterns ends up on Apple and Google servers.
If the vehicle's system is in charge, then it's the brands that can directly manage that data, analyze behaviors, and offer paid services or subscriptions within its own platform. From connectivity packages to advanced navigation, extra driving features or multimedia content, everything can be packaged and monetized with a higher margin.
In this context, the car's central screen ceases to be a mere support for maps and music and becomes a showcase of digital services with which manufacturers seek to differentiate themselves and make moneyIf the primary interface is mobile, that business is diluted. If it's controlled from the car, the story changes completely.
It is no coincidence that Tesla and Rivian, two brands native to the electric and connected era, They have never offered compatibility with CarPlay or Android AutoFrom the beginning, they opted for closed and integrated systems, where all digital interaction is carried out through the car's own software, with very close coordination between instrumentation, vehicle functions and entertainment.
Other manufacturers, such as BMW, also provide their own data: according to the German brand, Most of their customers barely use CarPlay and Android Auto for navigation And they prefer the built-in browser, primarily using Apple and Google platforms for messaging. These figures further support the push for increasingly comprehensive native operating systems.
Impact in Spain: short-term calm, long-term doubts
If you drive in Spain, it's natural to wonder how much all this affects you. In the specific case of GM, the immediate impact is practically nilThe company stopped operating directly in our country when it sold Opel to the PSA Group in 2017, and that operation was later integrated into Stellantis.
Since then, Opel Spain has operated as a separate entity, with their own managers and their own development scheduleThis has nothing to do with Mary Barra's digital strategy at the helm of General Motors. This means that popular models here, such as the Corsa, Astra, Crossland, and Grandland, will continue to offer CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility as we know it.
For now, No manufacturer with a strong presence in the Spanish market has announced clear plans to eliminate these platforms in their upcoming models. You can breathe relatively easy: if you buy a new car today from most of the usual brands, it will almost certainly still be compatible with your mobile phone.
Reasonable doubt lies in the medium and long term. GM's move sets a precedent and sends a powerful message to the rest of the industry: It's possible to do without CarPlay and Android Auto if you offer a sufficiently comprehensive proprietary system.If the move works out well for them and customers adapt without too many complaints, it wouldn't be surprising if other groups were encouraged to follow the same path.
That's why it's important to pay attention to each brand's advertisements and, above all, Don't assume that all future cars will continue to "talk" so well with your smartphone like the current ones. What is almost a standard today may become an extra tomorrow or, even worse, disappear from some catalogs altogether.
What changes for the driver who is constantly glued to their mobile phone?
When Android Auto and CarPlay arrived in cars, the landscape was very different: The integrated screens were slow, unintuitive, and rarely updated.Connecting the phone by cable, and then wirelessly, was like going from night to day.
Suddenly, you had your Familiar maps, your favorite music service, and your messages in an interface you already knowWith large icons and a voice assistant that worked much better than the car's, the standard navigation system took a backseat, and the phone became the dominant device on the dashboard.
If that projection now disappears and the dominant interface returns to that of the manufacturer, It breaks a sense of continuity that many drivers valued.Until now, changing cars but keeping the same mobile phone guaranteed a very similar experience across models and brands.
With manufacturer-closed systems or Android Automotive-based platforms without phone projection, Your comfort will depend on what each brand has decided to develop.: what apps it includes, how it organizes the menus, how the system responds, and how often the software is updated.
Added to this is the perennial debate about privacy and recurring payments. When the car's system is in charge, It's becoming easier for features you previously took for granted thanks to your mobile phone to end up being tied to subscriptions., additional accounts or data collection that is not transparent to the average user.
What to consider if you're going to change your car in the next few years
If you're thinking about buying a new car in the near future, you shouldn't just focus on fuel consumption, space, or technical specifications. The infotainment system has become a key part of everyday life.And the differences between brands can be enormous.
Before making your decision, it's worth carefully checking if the model you like It maintains compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.Whether it connects via cable, wirelessly, or both, and what the system itself offers when no device is connected, including options for Offline GPS maps.
If the car already uses a native environment without mobile projection, it's even more important that you ask for a thorough demonstration. Test the interface in person, navigate through the menus, and check for any delays when touching the screen. And checking which apps are available can save you a lot of trouble later.
And if you're one of those people who uses their mobile phone for absolutely everything, you might be interested in considering models that clearly continue to support CarPlay and Android Auto, at least until... The industry decides to what extent it will embrace closed systems and proprietary platforms.
The role of radio in the connected car: a silent storm
This entire redesign of the digital dashboard has an unwelcome guest: Traditional radio, both FM and DAB+While manufacturers and Google talk about smart assistants, apps, and connected services, the future of traditional in-car radio is on shaky ground.
Public radio stations and various organizations in the sector have already raised their voices in the face of a very specific threat: that new entertainment systems prioritize only online radio and leave out over-the-air reception, considering it "old" or poorly aligned with the digital business model.
Some countries have begun to react. In the United Kingdom and Italy, for example, Laws have been passed requiring the maintenance of radio receivers. in new vehicles, guaranteeing a minimum level of prominence for this medium. The argument is simple: over-the-air radio is essential in emergency situations, when the internet may fail.
Radioplayer, the consortium that brings together major radio operators from around the world, is negotiating with Google to find ways to enable integrating DAB+ and terrestrial radio into connected carsBut technological differences and economic interests don't make it easy, and there's a risk that in the end only streaming radio will be left.
If cars of the future only offer online radio, The infrastructure of poles and repeaters covering the main roads would be called into question.It would be enough to reinforce the mobile data network on those routes, or alternatives such as StarlinkThis clashes with the recommendations of international organizations, which insist that over-the-air radio must remain available to guarantee reliable information when it is most needed.
Are we witnessing the beginning of the end for CarPlay and Android Auto?
Despite these developments, writing off CarPlay and Android Auto would be an exaggeration. Millions of drivers use them daily, and many brands continue to see them as a major selling point.especially in mid-range phones where the user highly values ​​familiarity with their mobile device.
What seems clear is that The industry is reconsidering the role of the smartphone in the carSome manufacturers, such as GM, Tesla, and Rivian, are openly committed to closed and fully integrated systems. Others are strengthening their proprietary platforms but maintaining compatibility as an option, at least as long as the market continues to demand it.
In parallel, there is a whole ecosystem of external solutions: Devices that allow you to add Android Auto or CarPlay to vehicles that do not have them as standard equipment.or that improve the experience in slightly older cars. This keeps demand alive and demonstrates the extent to which users value being able to take their digital environment from one car to another.
The upcoming decisions of the major automotive groups will mark How much space will mobile-linked platforms retain, and how much ground will proprietary developments gain?This is no small discussion: it determines whether we continue to enjoy a consistent experience when changing cars or whether we return to a fragmented scenario, different for each brand.
As things stand, the most sensible thing for any driver who relies heavily on their mobile phone is to keep a close eye on the issue, ask plenty of questions at the dealership, and be clear that The car dashboard has become a battleground between manufacturers and technology giants.where what's at stake is your data, your comfort, and how you'll be moving around in the coming years.
