Now that I have CarPlay I won’t get a car without it. A car manufacturer can’t compete with the ecosystem or the convenience of using the same app in car as on the phone.

Granted it’d be better if the car navigation got updated and didn’t cost $100, but it won’t and it doesn’t. Podcasts don’t need a sync I as the play from the same device, there’s Audible, and Jellyfin supported music players, ChatGPT through the car speakers, WhatsApp for calls, I have a Bluetooth Connection for to the car computer, I had Pimsleur for a while, there is just no way an infotainment system can do more.

All this in a midrange car from 2021

Not to mention fleet vehicles, like rental cars or work trucks. CarPlay and Android Auto make that experience infinitely better, even with the most budget cars. I would never want a GM rental car now. This concept even extends to a family car with multiple drivers.

There is also an issue of privacy. GM could argue that you can login to the car and get most of your content, especially if you are in the Google ecosystem. But what is GM going to do with that data once they have it? The fewer places that have my data the better. It’s already on my phone, and my phone can already do what GM is trying to do. Why replicate it.

My next car will have CarPlay. Period. After experiencing CarPlay I almost started looking to upgrade but I don’t need a new car. That said, when I do get one CarPlay will be a new “must have” for me.

I’d like my next car to be electric as well so I’m hoping things improve on that front. Rivian is cool but no CarPlay and Tesla was already disqualified for many reasons. Thankfully I’ve never cared for GM cars so this won’t affect me but I hope they are punished by the market for removing CarPlay/not adding it to new cars.

I'm literally not buying a GM, because of this.

All of us just want cheaper, more reliable "dumb" objects.