Nearly two years ago, GM made the controversial choice to end support for CarPlay in its electric vehicles. Shortly after, the company began deploying its “Ultifi” infotainment software, which was plagued by bugs, leaving at least one reviewer stranded in rural Virginia.
Now, GM is actively working to terminate the only available CarPlay retrofit for its EVs.
Termination of GM CarPlay Retrofit
White Automotive, a company specializing in aftermarket accessories, engineered a retrofit option that allowed drivers of GM EVs to reintegrate both CarPlay and Android Auto into their vehicles. This retrofit kit was unveiled last November, with one GM dealer prepared to handle installations. According to White Automotive, professional installation was necessary due to the complexity of the system.
It comes as no surprise that GM has moved to shut down this initiative before it could achieve widespread traction. This was initially reported by GM Authority, which observed that White Automotive had ceased promoting the product without providing any reasoning.
According to a source within GM, The Drive reported that the automaker “investigated” the White Automotive retrofit and determined it “could have adverse impacts on ‘critical’ vehicle functions.” GM has directed the sole dealer involved in the retrofit installations to terminate its partnership with White Automotive. Faced with the loss of this collaboration, White Automotive reportedly chose to discontinue the product entirely.
In a statement, GM elaborated on its position:
“Aftermarket services that introduce features not originally designed, thoroughly tested, and approved by GM may cause unintended issues for customers. These issues could affect critical safety features and may also void portions of the vehicle’s warranty.”
While I’m not shocked that GM clamped down on this aftermarket CarPlay retrofit—especially considering the complexity that limited installations to GM dealerships—it is noteworthy that the existence of this product and the willingness of at least one dealer to engage in this partnership highlight the significant frustration among drivers over the company’s complete withdrawal from CarPlay support.
My favorite iPhone accessories:
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