GM to eliminate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from all future vehicles
General Motors CEO Mary Barra confirmed that the automaker will eliminate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from all future vehicles, extending a policy initially limited to electric models to include gasoline-powered cars as well. The announcement, made during a podcast interview with The Verge on October 22, 2025, represents a major escalation in GM’s strategy to own the digital relationship with its customers.
Expanding beyond electric vehicles
When asked whether new gas cars would lose smartphone projection capabilities, Barra replied: “As we get to a major rollout, I think that’s the right expectation. Yes.” The change will roll out gradually with each vehicle’s refresh cycle rather than hitting all models simultaneously, given that GM produces more than 40 models across its portfolio.
GM first announced plans to phase out CarPlay and Android Auto in its electric vehicles in 2023, beginning with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer. The company’s decision to extend this policy to all vehicles comes as GM reported a $1.6 billion write-down in its electric vehicle business due to declining EV demand and market shifts.
Invoking Steve Jobs
GM Chief Product Officer Sterling Anderson defended the move by comparing it to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ removal of floppy disk drives, calling it a “very Jobsian approach to things.” Anderson argued that using CarPlay in vehicles is like using phone mirroring on a laptop—unnecessary when better native solutions exist.
“You are in a much more immersive environment that can do so many more things; why would you use the equivalent of a phone mirroring application on a laptop in your car? We’re taking out the disk drive, guys; get on board with flash storage, that’s where the future is.”
— Sterling Anderson, GM Chief Product Officer
The comparison drew criticism, with many pointing out that Jobs removed outdated technology to improve products, while GM is eliminating a feature that receives the highest customer satisfaction scores for in-vehicle infotainment according to J.D. Power studies.
Betting on Google Gemini and subscription revenue
GM plans to replace CarPlay with its own Android-based infotainment system featuring a Google Gemini-powered AI assistant launching in 2026. The company is betting this integrated approach will generate significant subscription revenue, with Barra aiming to reach $20 billion to $25 billion in annual subscription revenue by 2030.
The automaker reported approximately $2 billion in year-to-date revenue from Super Cruise, OnStar, and other software services in the third quarter of 2025, with over 11 million OnStar global subscribers. GM plans to introduce more than 50 fee-based digital features by 2026, including predictive maintenance capabilities.
Despite consumer backlash, Barra insisted the company maintains “a good relationship with Apple” and will soon announce support for Apple Wallet functionality. The move comes as industry data consistently shows strong consumer preference for CarPlay, with 85% of car buyers considering it essential and 45% willing to reject vehicles without it.
GM has already blocked the only known aftermarket solution that restored CarPlay functionality to its EVs, forcing dealers to stop installing third-party retrofit kits. The company’s strategy stands in contrast to competitors like Honda, whose Prologue model—built on GM’s BEV3 platform but offering CarPlay and Android Auto—outsold both the Equinox EV and Blazer EV in 2024.