When it comes to the integration of smartphone technology in automobile infotainment systems, Apple CarPlay is pretty much the golden standard. GM was one of the first automakers to adopt Apple CarPlay, but despite that early adoption, the Detroit-based automaker has yet to offer the latest fully wireless version of the technology on any of its vehicles, including Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick or GMC models. And that needs to change, and badly.
The benefits of wireless CarPlay are pretty straightforward: instead of connecting the iPhone via a cable, the system works with no wires. Hence, one can simply keep the iPhone in a pocket or purse, while CarPlay magically initializes via a combination of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Currently, there are just three automakers that offer wireless Apple CarPlay – BMW, Mini, and Audi. Since Mini is owned by BMW, we should say that there are two-and-a-half, or really two, automakers that offer wireless CarPlay. Regardless, adoption rates are sure to pick up in the near future, and GM should be right there at the forefront.
In addition to the automakers listed above, a bevy of popular third-party head units already support wireless Apple CarPlay, including Panasonic, Pioneer, and JVC. What’s more, wireless Apple CarPlay goes hand-in-hand with the wireless phone chargers GM has been installing in every vehicle released in the recent past.
So what gives? Will GM get with the times and adopt the new wireless Apple CarPlay system? We reached out to GM for comment, but ended up with a dead end.
“While we’re always looking for ways to enhance the owner experience, we have nothing to announce,” Stephanie Lang of General Motors Advanced Technology Communications, OnStar and Connectivity, told us.
GM has been criticized in the past for sub-standard cabin appointments, with the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado being one recent example. Meanwhile, The General has also received its fair share of criticism when it comes to early versions of the CUE infotainment system. But outside of those standalone situations, GM has been a leader in the realm of in-vehicle technology, being first to roll out modern infotainment systems as well as in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspots across the broadest lineup.
As such, we certainly hope GM has wireless CarPlay on the roadmap, and plans on rolling it out soon, as doing so would be another way to differentiate itself from competitors, attract new customers, and silence critics. Here’s to hoping we won’t have to wait too much longer.
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Comments
They also need wireless Android Auto if it’s even available. Not everyone has or wants a IPhone. I’m perfectly happy with my cheapo LG smart phone.
And therein lies the problem. Your cheap LG android phone probably won’t be able to run android auto well. That’s the case for the overwhelming majority of the lower end (cheap, like you said) Android smartphones, where the android auto implementation is shaky at best, and downright buggy at worst due to weak hardware and software constraints.
The higher-end androids will run it just fine… but the mid- and lower-end units are riddled with issues galore. Google needs to force higher standards on the hardware that runs its software.
Lazy commentary. Rent cars all the time and use my crappy android just fine with android auto. The reason android is far and away the most popular operating system is due to its flexibility.
It is first a phone not an extension of the car…
I could care a less if there is a wire or not on my phone linked to the infotainment system because 99% of the time the phone is not in my pocket or hidden away somewhere. Perhaps women with purses would find it convenient but my phone is usually out sitting on the wireless charger or on its cradle. So to me a non issue really.
Yes the wireless Apple play would be appreciated.
If it were available i would use more features. I generally do not pull the phone out of my pocket for the 30 min ride home to plug in. But if it would link wireless I would use it more often.
For the better functionality of Google Maps alone, Android Auto is better.
Google Maps works on Apple Carplay as well now.
yes but it has limited/reduced functionality
Not that I’ve seen.
The panning and zooming for one
Stack them side by side and you’ll see
I used Android Auto for the first time in a rented 2019 Chevy Malibu, and my wife was astounded by the easiness and advanced functions it allowed. But it was connected through the USB-C cable. Wireless is needed, and Bluetooth may not be fast enough. I suggest using Wi-Fi for Android Auto.
Apple Maps works as well or better than Google Maps now. They made huge improvements on it. I have Google Maps on my phone but never use it over Apple’s.
I’ve been saying this since alpine came out with their wireless CarPlay stereo unit! Wireless CarPlay right now would set them far ahead of other companies. If I remember right BMW and maybe Volkswagen (?) are the only ones that have said anything about wireless CarPlay. They already have the wifi system implemented in their vehicles, which is what’s needed to utilize it. If Cadillac is truly trying to focus on younger customers, and technological advancements, it should be a no brainer IMHO.
A while ago I read that wireless Android and Apple carplay probably wasn’t going to happen because it was so processor-intensive you would drain your battery quickly and you’d want to plug it in to charge it anyways. Is this not true or is the only good solution for wireless Android and Apple carplay to also have wireless charging?
Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are useless for any trip greater than 15 minutes. It is so intensive on the Bluetooth and WiFi communication that within a 15 minute trip you are talking 20-25% of your battery life. It all sounds like a good idea but in reality you will just be plugging your phone in anyway to keep the charge.
So not true! I use both Car Play and Android Auto plugged in to USB. My phone easily charges up while running navigation and music / podcasts / radio apps at the same time.
No issues. Not particularly interested in wireless versions of these, because that would run down the battery quickly and my wireless charging pad in the car is too small. Plus, don’t phones just fly off these pads during sudden slow downs? How much of that can a phone take?
That depends on how the wireless charging pad is implemented. In most new GM vehicles, your phone ain’t going nowhere when in those things since they have a border (Silverado/Sierra) or are integrated into the center armrest area (XT4). Meanwhile, the CT5 has a “throne” for the phone that parents it from moving much.
GM has wireless charging in most of their new vehicles (my rented 2019 Chevy Malibu has it), so they can combine the wireless charger station with a transceiver to communicate for Android Auto or (ugh!) Car Play. BTW, there are five times more Android phones than iPhones.
How many of the android phones that support android auto are capable of adequately running Android Auto? Very few. How many iPhones that support Apple CarPlay can run Apple CarPlay perfectly? Every single one.
Just like with the overall Android experience, you just never know what to expect from most of android phones due to the ecosystem being the Wild West in terms of user experience and expectations. The quantity argument is moot, not only because of this, but because most android phones sold aren’t fully-fledged smartphones, but rather feature phones.
Yes, CarPlay is the gold standard here. Use them both and tell me otherwise.
Maybe that’s the case with poorly implemented Android Auto, but I used wireless CarPlay for six months with an aftermarket head unit and it was very power efficient.
And like we state, for the longer trips when charging makes sense, that wireless charger does the trick. The goal is the eliminate the cable.
I have a 2019 Chevy Tahoe that I just bought May I ask what wireless device you bought. Having a lot of trouble finding something that guarantees it will fit and work. Thank you for any advice you could give me. Sunreayz Transportation
Battery life is not an issue and wireless chargers will be the norm in all vehicles soon. Both my new vehicles have them.
Yeah, my 2018 Silverado does. But my not really that big Moto phone doesn’t fit, a smaller sizes iPhone just barely does.
I guess it’s just not that big of a deal to plug my phone in. I’d love it if my truck scratched my junk, but I don’t mind doing that myself either. Guess I’m too blue collar.
Change the collar.
This is stupid. Carplay is the gold standard?!? Carplay sucks. Why do the fanbois rave about iPhones when they are so far behind WRT people using them. Apple Maps suck from what I hear.
You must look at the facts. First, most cars don’t have the hardware to support wireless Carplay or Android Auto. Plus, both of those are fairly taxing of the phone itself. You’ll run out of battery before making it to the 7-11! Having it plugged in makes sense since your phone will be charging.
In my Vette, I have a ProClip mount that’s magnetic. I simply throw the phone up there and wham it clamps in. Connect the wire and I’m good to go. I also run the JBV1 app that controls my Valentine 1 radar detector and even gives me Waze warnings about cops so I want to see the screen.
iPhone users are so single-minded and in a trance from the Apple gawds that all they can think of is how Apple wants them to do it.
Agreed! It also needs wireless Android Auto, which is available. Good luck getting anything remotely modern from GM, even though all the needed hardware is already present. They will expect you to but a new car to get the features, like it’s still 1957.
If audi and Bmw are the only two with wireless I think GM is with the times.lol The new Toyota Supra has wireless carplay also but its practically a bmw too
Isn’t this more of Apple lagging like hell on technology? Full Android mirroring capability has been available for years; before Android Auto even. Apple is just a total laggard.
Never been one to plug up the phone in the vehicle unless I had to charge it (which is rare). Just bought a 2019 Silverado and didn’t even realize till I was headed down the road after purchase that it has the cheapest, lowest end, infotainment system available (IOR). Simply not being able to get a notification of a text on the unit is beyond STUPID to me. After many calls and cases opened with GM their answer is I have to plug it up and use Car Play to get text notifications and have Siri read them to me. Again the phone stays in my pocket on purpose. Talked to the dealer about upgrading system and by the time parts and labor were calculated it was approaching $8000!! So very disappointed in GM and this system. Love the truck….HATE the system! Searching online for a wireless dongle I can use for car play if that’s my only option.
Amusing how people will comment about something in an authoritative tone without any gdam experience on the matter. I’ve had a Pioneer NEX deck in my Chrysler for a few years, and it came with wireless CarPlay, and it is seamless. If there’s any additional battery drain, I haven’t noticed it. No worse than listening to headphones IMO.
I recently bought a 2019 Corvette and was shocked at how crappy the CarPlay integration is. Sometimes won’t recognize the device, locks up, apps have reduced capabilities, etc,
How is it that a new flagship vehicle for a major manufacturer can be so bad?
Wish I could stick the Pioneer in there, but unfortunately that’s not possible.
I would like to see wireless CarPlay as an affordable option. the upgrade pricing for the Silverado is crazy. But I’d also LOVE to see just a few options. The first is to be able to see the temperature when using CarPlay, and the second would be an Apple change in being able to make personalized changes to moving the apps around or viewing different apps on the Apple CarPlay home screen. Just a users 2 cents.
I was questioning whither the 2020 Sierra had Wireless Car-Play when phone is in the wireless charger? It sounds like no such luck.
At least having wireless Car-play when phone was in the charger would be a no brainier to me.
Seems to me it is silly to have to get your cord out to plug into Car-Play when not having to plug in for charging. Makes no since.
I hope GM gets this figured out with the refresh of the interior in the 2021 Sierra.
Surely with the new Google system with Car-Play GM will get this all figured out into a good all around system.
Really looking forward to the 2021 Sierra and hoping we are not disappointed.
I’ve been buying Chevrolets for many years now and to be telling the truth wireless CarPlay is one of the things I’m looking for if I’m going to continue in the future.
I’m currently looking for a new, used car and I’m still debating on certain vehicles and was just looking at a 2020 Acadia and was really shocked it didn’t have Apple CarPlay and wifi. It sure made it sound like it was a standard feature and saw it on a tv show in their truck… I guess when you’re in a show and buy the top of the line truck, you can have anything. It was a Chevy, not a gmc. I mean… they’re the same damn vehicle, except one costs more and you get some higher end features. My son has a 2020 RAV4 and has Apple CarPlay in his car.
EVERY ACADIA HAS CARPLAY AND WIFI. It has been a standard feature on every vehicle since 2016. Now if you are talking about wireless carplay, that was introduced in 2021 models.