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GM finds splitscreen solution for CarPlay and Android Auto

2026-09-15 | original
read original get Apple CarPlay Wireless Adapter → more articles
Why This Matters

GM's reversal shows automakers are recognizing that customers value the familiarity of CarPlay and Android Auto over proprietary infotainment systems, even as manufacturers seek new revenue streams through in-car software. This compromise—splitscreen integration with native vehicle gauges—could become a model for how carmakers balance user preference with business interests in the shift toward more connected, EV-era vehicles.

Key Takeaways
Worth a Look

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General Motors has backtracked a bit on its pledge to ditch CarPlay and Android Auto. The company will support both in a revamped infotainment system that will first be available in the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and 2027 GMC Sierra pickup trucks. It will be available on other models later.

Including a display on which a passenger in the front seat can stream video, the new trucks have 60 inches of screen real estate. GM is taking advantage of that space by offering CarPlay and Android Auto in a splitscreen view. As such, drivers will be able to access CarPlay and Android Auto functions while still being able to see vehicle gauges. They won't necessarily have to swap screens, which may help reduce distractions. GM told Bloomberg it worked with Apple and Google on this approach.

GM

"We were one of the first automakers to bring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into our gas-powered vehicles. Now with the new UI, we've integrated the experience more deeply than ever before in our light-duty pickups," Mike Wahlstrom, GM's executive director of software product management, said in a Q&A. "People really like CarPlay and Android Auto because they're so user-centric. We heard from customers that they want that same simplicity while still having quick access to everything their vehicle can do. Our next-gen UI brings those together in a cohesive way."

The automaker announced three years ago that it would ditch CarPlay and Android Auto from electric vehicles in favor of a bespoke infotainment system that uses Gemini. It planned to do the same in gas-powered vehicles.

It had several reasons for doing so, such as potentially monetizing its infotainment system through subscriptions. However, arguably the most pressing concern was that CarPlay and Android Auto typically take over the display. This can be a problem (one that many carmakers have to contend with) when infotainment systems are used to display vehicle gauges, as is often the case with EVs. The splitscreen format may be a solution to that issue.

GM hasn't said whether it will bring CarPlay back to EVs — the company's Q&A about the revamped UI doesn't mention EVs at all. Its infotainment system still works with some phone apps, though. GM EVs that lack CarPlay can access Apple Music as well.

Explore topics: general motors carplay android auto chevrolet silverado gmc sierra
Related:
GM gives its most important trucks a new UI—and includes CarPlay
Volvo increases the batteries for 2028 XC60 and XC90 plug-in refresh
GM updates its trucks’ native software to coexist with CarPlay
Make long drives easier with this Android Auto feature
Car manufacturers are ditching CarPlay in 2026: Here's why

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