GM eliminated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from its EVs — this upgrade adds them back

What GM takes away, the aftermarket restores.

General Motors’ arguable determination to driblet Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from astir of its electrical vehicles present has a imaginable workaround. As noticed by InsideEVs, a institution called White Automotive and Media Services (WAMS) is advertising a caller aftermarket upgrade kit that restores the fashionable phone-mirroring features backmost into Chevy and GMC EVs.

On its website, the institution promises “fully integrated wired and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto successful each the ways you’ve travel to expect (and immoderate you haven’t!) without compromising immoderate existing features oregon functionality.” The upgrade is presently compatible with the Chevy Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs, arsenic good arsenic the GMC Sierra EV. (Sorry Cadillac!)

A video posted connected the company’s tract shows disconnected the upgrade — and it looks beauteous good. The acquainted CarPlay and Android Auto interface is displayed connected the cardinal infotainment display, and the video promises “OEM similar integration” with your preferred dependable assistant, whether its Siri oregon Google Assistant. You tin show Apple Maps successful the instrumentality cluster, including turn-by-turn navigation successful the Heads-Up Display.

It each looks slick and professional, but of people the devil is successful the details.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t look similar a solution that volition beryllium wide disposable — astatine slightest not astatine first. WAMS says that owed to the “complexity” of the installation process, arsenic good arsenic its tendency to supply the “best imaginable lawsuit experience,” the aftermarket kit is lone disposable done 1 dealership, LaFontaine Chevrolet successful Plymouth, Michigan. The installation outgo is besides unavailable. We reached retired to WAMS for remark and volition update this station if they respond.

GM archetypal announced that it was ditching CarPlay and Android Auto successful its EVs successful 2023, defending the decision arsenic a tendency to connection a much immersive and integrated acquisition for customers that doesn’t skimp connected features.

Of course, astir customers person travel to trust connected telephone projection to entree their preferred media players and interaction list. And galore person been vocal astir their opposition to removing that capableness from immoderate vehicle. Meanwhile, GM’s rivals person been unsubtle astir their ain ongoing commitment to keeping CarPlay and Android Auto for aboriginal models.