Why Tesla can get by without CarPlay but other car makers can't
General Motors plans to ditch CarPlay and do its own new infotainment, but if the company thinks it can do what Tesla does, it's wildly mistaken.
GM predicts it can use its own infotainment software to build a subscription revenue business worth $20 to $25 billion a year, by 2030. If it can get close to that, it makes sense that it would try.
Tesla has been doing its own in-car content, bucking the trend of adopting mobile phone projection systems like CarPlay or Android Auto, all the while selling millions of EVs. I'm sure it's hard for GM and other automakers to not think they can do the same thing.
The problem is that GM isn't really trying to replicate what Tesla is doing with its in-car content. It's unlikely hiring Apple's former head of iCloud, Mike Abbott, to lead its integrated software department probably will help.
The only reason Tesla can get away with not offering CarPlay is because its cars are so feature-rich, new owners don't miss CarPlay or what it offers -- at least for a long time.
In place of the familiarity of people's phones, Tesla is offering an abundance of features and other advancements at a rapid pace.
GM doesn't just need to offer a few apps or a good interface, it needs to give owners an overwhelming amount of apps and content with at least a decent visual interface.
Until it can do that, GM and others should stick to CarPlay and stop betting against the familiarity of people's personal devices and apps.
As for what games you can actually play, they range fom classics such as Chess, Backgammon, Solitaire, and Soduku to more involving options. These include Beach Buggy Racing 2, Stardrew Valley, and Cup Head.
It also doesn't account for being able to make fart noises inside and outside of the car. That's supposed to be a feature and not a bug, by the way.
All these software features are also in addition to new electric vehicle owners getting familiar with charging a car, using the Supercharger network, and the driving differences of an EV.
Tesla cars offer much more content options than any legacy automaker even comes close to. Even Rivian doesn't currently offer native access to video services, games, Apple Music, or general streaming radio. Of course, Apple Music did take a while to come to Tesla cars.
While Tesla might not use CarPlay, it hasn't snubbed the iPhone. Its mobile app is excellent and even goes above and beyond to support Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets.
But since Tesla doesn't offer the capability, it at least makes an effort to offer a lot of content options.
Tesla charges $99 a year for its premium connectivity, but it doesn't limit people from using navigation or games. The video services can still be used on Wi-Fi as long as you log in to ones that need a subscription.
My prediction is that GM's infotainment initiative will run for several years before it gets scrapped or significantly altered. And, I'm not alone is this guess.
Eventually, I do think GM will at least unceremoniously add-in support for Apple's CarPlay, because Android Automotive, the underlying real-time OS GM is using, already supports it.
Either that or GM feels the pressure from Ford and other car companies and adds CarPlay support even sooner.
As Warren Buffett continues to point out, people love their iPhones and it would be silly to bet against Apple.
Read on AppleInsider
GM predicts it can use its own infotainment software to build a subscription revenue business worth $20 to $25 billion a year, by 2030. If it can get close to that, it makes sense that it would try.
Tesla has been doing its own in-car content, bucking the trend of adopting mobile phone projection systems like CarPlay or Android Auto, all the while selling millions of EVs. I'm sure it's hard for GM and other automakers to not think they can do the same thing.
The problem is that GM isn't really trying to replicate what Tesla is doing with its in-car content. It's unlikely hiring Apple's former head of iCloud, Mike Abbott, to lead its integrated software department probably will help.
The only reason Tesla can get away with not offering CarPlay is because its cars are so feature-rich, new owners don't miss CarPlay or what it offers -- at least for a long time.
In place of the familiarity of people's phones, Tesla is offering an abundance of features and other advancements at a rapid pace.
GM doesn't just need to offer a few apps or a good interface, it needs to give owners an overwhelming amount of apps and content with at least a decent visual interface.
Until it can do that, GM and others should stick to CarPlay and stop betting against the familiarity of people's personal devices and apps.
Tesla's infotainment features
For those who aren't familiar with the content and features available on Tesla vehicles, these lists should provide a glimpse of what GM is up against.Streaming music services
- Spotify
- Apple Music
- Tidal
- TuneIn
- Streaming radio
- HD Radio
As for what games you can actually play, they range fom classics such as Chess, Backgammon, Solitaire, and Soduku to more involving options. These include Beach Buggy Racing 2, Stardrew Valley, and Cup Head.
Streaming video services
- YouTube
- Hulu
- Netflix
- Disney+
- Twitch
- TikTok
Additional features
Along with other driving-focused features and your expected infotainment fare, Tesla also adds a lot more functionality to its version, beyond what you would normally anticipate. This includes:- Web browser
- Sentry remote live video view
- Boombox - play sound externally through the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) speaker
- Sketchpad - drawing app
- Light show - flashing headlights to music
- Trax - recording studio and beatmaker
- Simulated romantic fireplace
- And more
It also doesn't account for being able to make fart noises inside and outside of the car. That's supposed to be a feature and not a bug, by the way.
All these software features are also in addition to new electric vehicle owners getting familiar with charging a car, using the Supercharger network, and the driving differences of an EV.
Tesla cars offer much more content options than any legacy automaker even comes close to. Even Rivian doesn't currently offer native access to video services, games, Apple Music, or general streaming radio. Of course, Apple Music did take a while to come to Tesla cars.
While Tesla might not use CarPlay, it hasn't snubbed the iPhone. Its mobile app is excellent and even goes above and beyond to support Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets.
The future of infotainment
To be clear, none of this is in defense of Tesla or any other car manufacturer. I wish CarPlay was a factory option on Tesla vehicles -- and all cars.But since Tesla doesn't offer the capability, it at least makes an effort to offer a lot of content options.
Tesla charges $99 a year for its premium connectivity, but it doesn't limit people from using navigation or games. The video services can still be used on Wi-Fi as long as you log in to ones that need a subscription.
My prediction is that GM's infotainment initiative will run for several years before it gets scrapped or significantly altered. And, I'm not alone is this guess.
Eventually, I do think GM will at least unceremoniously add-in support for Apple's CarPlay, because Android Automotive, the underlying real-time OS GM is using, already supports it.
Either that or GM feels the pressure from Ford and other car companies and adds CarPlay support even sooner.
As Warren Buffett continues to point out, people love their iPhones and it would be silly to bet against Apple.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Deeper car integration would necessarily mean deeper cooperation and I'm not sure third party systems are where manufacturers prefer to go (unless there is some development process with the manufacturer).
Most car manufacturers understand that, as cars become more 'autonomous', they will also become more computerised. They will want to face the challenges of computerisation knowing that they control everything, including the tail of the dog, and not find themselves being wagged by it down the line. Some models already include mini, mobile data centers and all the necessary hardware interconnects to the car sensor systems.
The danger for Apple now is that their car aspirations are an open secret and that might lead to major reservations on how far automakers let CarPlay intergrate with their hardware.
This GM move may be an early warning sign of that.
It's very late in the day IMO as competing systems have been shipping for a while. It won't be easy and trying to squeeze a subscription model into the equation looks difficult to pull off (even if the first years include the subscription cost in the sale price of the car).
I suppose this article is mainly focused on the US market as it makes no mention of Chinese efforts which are more advanced than Android Auto and CarPlay.
https://www.gsmarena.com/aito_m5_harmonyos_system_quick_review-news-54285.php
That is with HarmonyOS 2. HarmonyOS 3 is currently shipping on cars and HarmonyOS 4 is coming later this year.
Europe is currently bracing itself for a massive influx of Chinese EVs and VW was reportedly negotiating with Huawei for the use of its systems in future cars.
Barring the subscription model itself, I can see the logic behind them wanting a whole widget system, but can't help but think it's very late in the day to make it a success internationally.
I guess we will see how this plays out. I completely agree that GM has lost their marbles deciding to not include it in future EVs. No wonder Ford's CEO laughed when he heard the news.
"Tesla charges $99 a year for its premium connectivity, but it doesn't limit people from using navigation or games."
Games? That's the thing they chose to give for free (aside from the basics)? Most people who can afford a Tesla and have kids will likely have bought them a much better portable gaming system.
I have this discussion regularly with a Tesla-owning friend, and he argues that Tesla provide all the apps you could need instead. And that would be absolutely fine, except of course they don't.
'How do I play my music on Deezer?' I ask.
'Oh. Well it has Spotify.'
'Well I have Deezer.'
'Can't you change music providers to match Elon Musk's whims?'
'No. But I also listen to audiobooks. I assume the Audible app is good?'
'Ah. It doesn't have that either. All you need to do in either case is just buy a phone mount that sticks to the windscreen, pair your phone with Bluetooth and generally pretend it's 2009.'
Ah, Tesla. The least up-to-date tech in any car available today.
Still, I do not understand why people are so enamoured with Tesla technology: the navigation interface is, frankly, as bad as Google or Apple Maps were 5 years ago, it does not even have a decent turn-by-turn; multiple drivers have to fidget around to change the source every time they get into a car, it does not connect to the available iPhone automatically; and to close an app, sometimes its a swipe, sometimes a Close button and sometimes a little "X" in the corner; and lastly, sometimes you have to scroll through a page to find the functionality, which is a totally unacceptable thing to ask a driver to do while driving.
On the other hand, Apple's CarPlay's colours are a bit garish, I'd prefer if it changed colour schemes to adapt to the car interior.
Let's rephrase this. The "people that you know" have older cars or cars that did not have Apple CarPlay/Android Auto offered.
Apple CarPlay IS main stream in current model cars and most manufactures have migrated from wired to wireless.
CarPlay has been around since 2014, that's 9 years! No, not everyone has a new car, or even one less than 9 years old, but many millions of people do. I think it's probably mainstream by now.
My phone is my phone, music, maps, GPS,... I can hop between 3 cars and 2 motorcycles and my music and destinations follow ME.
Personally, I wouldn't buy a vehicle w/o Apple Wireless CarPlay or BT minimum. I plain don't have the patience to "configure" other devices including a car.
The only other device that I "install" apps/channels on is my TV and that is only b/c the Apple TV "app" doesn't recognize the other content providers on the TV the way the Apple TV app on my computer, iPad and iPhone do. Configured once Apple TV on an Apple device can be used to search and launch content hosted by other apps on that Apple device, e.g. Disney, HBO, etc. I think this was closer to Steve Job's original vision for TV, not so much gatekeeping the content--that the content providers are afraid of--but more simplification for the end users to find and watch what they want. Today my son, uses the Internet to find out which streaming service is offering the content that he wants to watch and hopefully we subscribe to that service. Today content is fragment and too costly.
I think GM is being cautious about their decision though. They're not simply dumping CarPlay from all new models. Rather just their new EV models. That's going to be a small percentage of their business. They'll have time to see if that strategy is working or not. Likely, it won't in the long run.