by Key Points of GM’s Decision
Strategic Transition to Proprietary Technologies
General Motors continues to strengthen its bet on proprietary technologies by abandoning two popular smartphone projection systems. After removing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from its electric lineup, GM now confirms it is preparing to do the same for its internal combustion engine vehicles.
During an appearance on The Verge’s Decoder podcast, CEO Mary Barra stated that the company’s future centralized computing platform, expected around 2028, will mark the end of smartphone projection in all directions.
This means there will no longer be an option to connect your Apple or Android device to take over the central screen. Instead, you will be fully within GM’s own infotainment ecosystem.
Closed System or Connected Vision?
The American automaker insists that it does not aim to make drivers’ lives more difficult, but only more connected. Executives claim that running everything through GM’s own software will provide a smoother, safer, and more integrated experience.
But this also means that GM will be able to retain user data and actively promote technology subscriptions to increase its profitability.
When GM announced the abandonment of Apple/Android in its electric vehicles, the automotive community was skeptical, and the phased removal from gasoline vehicles will be equally unpopular. For many buyers, CarPlay and Android Auto are not luxury add-ons; they are essential tools that we expect to find in our new cars.
Consumer Reaction and Market Implications
They are not perfect, but we have spent the last decade happily streaming Spotify, reading messages, or checking maps through the familiar interface of our phones.
If this familiarity is taken away, it is quite possible that some buyers might start considering other brands that still allow them to use the technologies they already love.
Gradual Transition
To be clear, the phase-out will not happen overnight. Current and upcoming internal combustion engine models will continue to offer smartphone projection for some time. But when new vehicles adopt the next-generation software architecture, these features will quietly disappear.
The first model to receive the new system will be the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ, marking the beginning of GM’s fully self-sufficient digital era.
This strategic move by GM reflects a broader trend in the automotive industry where manufacturers are trying to create their own ecosystems and control user data. While this may bring financial benefits for the company, the real success of this strategy will depend on how seamlessly GM can implement its own system and whether it can compete with the already familiar interfaces that millions of drivers use daily. The transition period until 2028 will give the company time to refine its technologies and convince consumers of the benefits of this approach.
