Apple $AAPL ( ▲ 0.39% ) CarPlay’s popularity with drivers might not be enough to save the fate of the tech system as more automakers seek to retain control of their dashboards.
The details: Questions about the future of the in-vehicle interface have been mounting for months—then kicked into overdrive in October when General Motors $GM ( ▼ 0.13% ) announced that it was completely ditching the smart-phone system, setting off a firestorm of complaints about the shift in Apple forums and the development of workarounds.
A study by American Trucks found that 55% of drivers surveyed indicated that the inability to use CarPlay is a “deal-breaker” when buying a new vehicle as well as 36% of Android Auto users saying so.
According to Edison, 32% of Americans 18+ in 2024 who had driven or ridden in a car in the last month had CarPlay or Android Auto in their primary vehicle, up from 26% in 2023.
One of the latest posted workarounds for CarPlay, which GM began ditching in its EVs in 2023, requires a $55 Carlinkit adapter that plugs into one of the vehicle’s USB data ports and a source code, then pushing it to the Google Play Store.
What they’re saying: “Not only is the penetration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto increasing in the American auto market, but usage of these technologies is also high,” Edison said, per a press statement. “As of 2025, 83% of Americans 18+ who have been in a car in the last month and have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, use either platform. Meaning, those who have either technology in their cars use it.”
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Why it matters: CarPlay (and Android Auto) are basic shopper expectations at this point—and when they’re missing, it can become a friction point that complicates test drives, slows decisions, and shifts attention away from the vehicle’s strengths. As more brands push native infotainment and paid services, dealers may need tighter front-line messaging on what’s included, how the system works day-to-day, and what comparable alternatives exist.
Between the lines: The stakes are high for both automakers and Apple in the rapidly evolving world of tech and consumers’ desires to always be seamlessly connected as they move about.
GM plans to launch a new native in-car experience platform, with the ability to access user data and charge for services that CarPlay currently provides for free.
The automaker is also developing a Google Gemini–powered assistant and other custom-built apps to replace traditional phone projection.
Tesla $TSLA ( ▼ 1.45% ) and Rivian $RIVN ( ▼ 0.64% ) have never offered native support for CarPlay or Android Auto—and Volvo and Polestar use platforms that limit how much control CarPlay can have.
Looking ahead: Apple has been ramping up CarPlay’s capabilities, including a widget for ChatGPT with the ability to activate the voice command, real-time flight-tracking capabilities, and mapping route and road surface predictions, to name a few.
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