I TAKE BACK THE INFOTAINMENT – Apple CarPlay it is increasingly being targeted by car manufacturers. There GM it is only the last of the manufacturers that has decided not to equip its cars with the platform of the bitten apple, following the example of Tesla and Rivian. The manufacturers are thus trying to regain control of the infotainment systems of their vehicles, after having aimed for almost a decade to mirror the smartphone with systems such as CarPlay and Android Auto. The reason? Mainly cheap, given that through the infotainment screens they aim to sell drivers additional features and subscriptions for their cars.
> In the photos on this page the Chevrolet Blazer EV.
PRIVATIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY – For now the GM limit veto on CarPlay to his electric models, instead leaving it on board combustion engine vehicles. A step backwards which, however, risks representing an own goal for sales, given that many US motorists have already stated that they will not consider cars without Apple CarPlay on board. After all, in the United States, the iPhone accounted for 57% of the smartphone market in December.
ANDROID AUTOMOTIVE – But GM doesn’t seem to listen to reason and continues on its way, designing a new interface using Android Automotive, Google’s open source platform other than Android Auto. Indeed, the first is installed directly on the car and can be customized (and controlled) from any home, while the second is limited to mirroring (with or without wires) the contents of the telephone. However, drivers of GM’s electric vehicles will still be able to connect their phones to the cars via Bluetooth to make calls or listen to music.
LOTS OF MONEY – Repossessing infotainment systems for homes could generate a substantial turnover. GM said it expects up to $25 billion in revenue annuals from software and subscriptions. In the US, Tesla already charges a $199-a-month subscription for its self-driving system update and a $3,000-a-year subscription to diagnostic software. McKinsey & Co., an international strategy consulting firm, estimates that these systems could generate between $250 and $400 billion in annual incremental value for auto companies by 2030.
NO TO SUBSCRIPTIONS – It remains to be seen how these new strategies will be received by motorists. A survey conducted by Cox Automotive in April 2022 showed that three-quarters of US motorists are unwilling to pay for a subscription for most of their vehicle equipment. Instead, they expect features like lane keeping assist or heated seats to be paid for when you buy the car, not with a monthly fee.
