GM just announced it is dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for its EVs. The first Ev without either technology will be the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer. GM has a number of reasons why it is killing the two platforms, but two of them you’ll really hate. 

Why is GM killing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

The automaker wants all of its EVs to have built-in infotainment systems. To that end, it is working with Google and has been since 2019. One reason it is going in this direction is to “capture more on how consumers drive and charge EVs,” according to Automotive News. 

So essentially, one reason is to grab more data about its customers, which exposes everyone who drives one of its EVs. So consumers have yet, another entity compiling data on each of us. Yes, in the digital age, we’re all pretty much exposed, but it is one more disturbing aspect we can add to the list. 

How do integrated systems help drivers?

The other reason GM is all-in on integrated infotainment systems in its future vehicles is to “accelerate a strategy for its EVs to be platforms for digital subscription services,” again, from Automotive News. Yes, the dreaded subscription service bonanza all automakers are quivering to release is just on the horizon. This is in spite of multiple surveys showing car buyers hate the idea. 

GM is touting on this in-vehicle infotainment as a boon for assisted driving features. “We have a lot of new driver assistance features coming that are more tightly coupled with navigation,” GM’s executive director of digital cockpit experience Edward Himche told Reuters. “We don’t want to design these features in a way that is dependent on a person having a cellphone.”

Do car buyers really want subscription services?

GM’s plan is to offer Google Maps and Google Assistant at no cost for eight years. Google Assistant is for voice commands. The company plans on offering Spotify, Audible, and other unspecified apps. “We do believe there are subscription revenue opportunities for us,” says Edward Kummer, chief digital officer for GM. 

We were already warned about potential additional costs with subscription services. GM CEO Mary Barra gleefully announced to shareholders last year it will potentially hoover up $20 billion to $25 billion in annual revenue this way. 

But a recent survey by Autolist clearly shows consumers want no part of subscription services. It surveyed 1,200 new car shoppers to find out their views on the idea. Almost 70% said they wanted no part of paying into subscriptions. 

The survey shows car buyers don’t want subscriptions

But when you look at the breakdown of responses to the car subscription query, it looks like more than 70% are not in favor. For 69%, the answer is “No.” For 12%, they’re “not sure.” Another 12% said they don’t care how they pay for features, while 7% said they’re in favor of the idea. 

And the breakdowns go further. Gen Z buyers are less bothered by subscriptions. As new car buyers’ ages increased in the survey, the dislike levels rise. With younger buyers comes the practice of paying extra for streaming and entertainment services. Older buyers want to pay up front for what they want and then to be done with added costs. 

But in a weird twist, higher-income buyers liked the idea much less than those with lower incomes. For those with incomes above $150,000, 83% said “no” to subs. So GM is betting on younger buyers accepting the practice, while at the same time alienating those who buy the feature-laden models. And that’s where the real profits come from.