General Motors (GM) recently announced that it will cancel Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, two projection systems, in its upcoming electric vehicles, sparking strong opposition from the outside world. However, GM hasn’t changed its mind, insisting instead that its own operating system can be better than Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The projection system can project the interface and functions of the mobile phone onto the car’s screen, allowing the driver to control the application on the mobile phone by touch or voice. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are currently the two most popular projection systems, and many consumers regard them as important considerations when buying a car. So why is GM dropping both systems?
In an interview with The Verge, Scott Miller, GM’s vice president of software-defined vehicles and operating systems, said he doesn’t think Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are the best infotainment experiences, but rather one. Expedient. Consumer demand for the two systems reflects their desire for a better infotainment experience, but these projection systems aren’t the end, he said. He believes consumers will ditch Android Auto and Apple CarPlay if they offer a better native experience.
Native experience means that the operating system is directly embedded in the car, without the need to connect to the phone. GM plans to use a native Android-based operating system, Android Automotive, in its electric vehicles, which is a separate system from Android Auto. Android Auto is a projected system, while Android Automotive is a native operating system. According to Miller, the native operating system can achieve “whole integration” and provide more information and functions about the electric vehicle itself, such as battery status and navigation directions. He also said that the native operating system can better recognize the driver’s identity and preferences, enabling seamless switching.
Miller emphasized that GM isn’t ditching Android Auto and Apple CarPlay entirely, it’s just that they are no longer available in electric vehicles. GM’s gasoline vehicles will still use both systems. He said GM hopes to use its own operating system to create the electric vehicle revolution and compete with competitors such as Tesla.
