General Motors has clearly announced its direction regarding the integration of Android Auto and CarPlay into its vehicles: it will not be supporting them. Nevertheless, an innovative third-party kit offers a solution to regain this functionality.
In March of the previous year, GM revealed that it would not include CarPlay or phone-projected Android Auto in its future vehicles, opting instead for Google’s Android Automotive platform. This decision faced significant backlash from consumers, prompting GM to repeatedly justify its choice.
For those drivers eager about the vehicles that GM is stripping away CarPlay and Android Auto from, a third-party solution is now available.
White Automotive & Media Services (WAMS), a Michigan-based company, has introduced a new kit that enables the use of Android Auto and CarPlay in GM’s latest Ultium electric vehicles, which originally lack these platforms. The kit is compatible with the Chevy Blazer EV, Equinox EV, and Silverado EV, integrating with both the central display and the instrument cluster for navigational purposes.
WAMS comments:
This upgrade features fully integrated wired and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto in all the expected ways (and some surprising ones too!) without sacrificing any existing features or functionality. Complete on-screen CarPlay and Android Auto, fully integrated Infotainment display source menu integration, and Instrument Cluster media displays, including now-playing information, source lists, etc. Full Apple Maps integration is also supported in the Instrument Cluster along with Turn-by-Turn Navigation instructions on the Heads-Up Display (if equipped).
While the pricing for the kit has not been disclosed, its availability is currently limited to just one installation site. At present, it can only be installed through a Chevrolet dealership located in Plymouth, Michigan. WAMS believes that “optimal customer experience can only be achieved through an OEM dealership that is capable of not only meticulously upgrading your EV but also providing exceptional service afterward.” However, it has been stated that “more locations” will be added soon.
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