General Motors is reversing course on plans to drop Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, instead building a new infotainment interface that runs them alongside native vehicle gauges in a splitscreen layout. The system debuts in the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, which feature roughly 60 inches of combined screen space including a passenger video display, and will later expand to other GM models. GM says it collaborated directly with Apple and Google to design the shared-screen experience.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-15
Google is now widely deploying Gemini as the default digital assistant across Android Auto, replacing the standard Google Assistant for drivers who haven't already switched manually. Users can still enable it themselves via Settings, and once active, Gemini handles voice interactions, messaging, music requests and more inside the car.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-13
Several car manufacturers are planning to remove or reduce support for Apple CarPlay in vehicles starting in 2026, favoring proprietary infotainment systems instead. The shift is driven largely by electric vehicles, which need tighter software integration for functions like battery preconditioning and charging controls that CarPlay cannot manage as a simple phone-mirroring layer.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-13
Google is highlighting that many persistent Android Auto connectivity problems stem not from the phone but from outdated software running on a car's infotainment system. The company recommends restarting the infotainment unit and, for aftermarket head units like Pioneer or Kenwood, checking the manufacturer's website for firmware updates.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-12
Google Maps users on Android Auto are reporting that the recently rolled-out live speedometer and speed-limit indicator have vanished from the app. Some drivers also say markers for stop signs and traffic lights, which had appeared alongside the feature, are no longer showing up. The speedometer had only begun reaching beta testers in July after Google added a feature long available on mobile and on Apple CarPlay.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-08
Multiple Waze users report that switching the app from split-screen to full-screen view on Android Auto causes the navigation information box—showing ETA, arrival time, next turn, and remaining distance—to vanish. Some say the data briefly reappears when an alert pops up, only to disappear again once the alert clears, while at least one user reports the map failing to center properly in either view. Android Authority has contacted Google, and it remains unclear whether the fault lies with a recent Android Auto or Waze update.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-08
GM's 2027 configurator listings show the Cadillac Lyriq still offering CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, despite the company's 2023 announcement that it would drop the phone-mirroring features from future EVs. A Cadillac spokesperson said the brand is evolving its infotainment strategy based on customer feedback while also focusing on its own native interface.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-08
General Motors is removing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from most of its gas and electric vehicles, replacing them with a native infotainment system built around Google's Gemini AI assistant. However, the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq EV will reportedly retain support for both phone-mirroring platforms, making it the only GM electric vehicle sold in North America to do so.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-07
Android Auto, used by roughly 250 million people worldwide, sometimes drops apps from its launcher without explanation. This typically happens because a phone's battery optimization feature deactivates the app in the background rather than removing it entirely. Users can restore hidden apps or manually hide unwanted ones through their device settings in just a few steps.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-07
The developer of the Android Auto app Xtream Player (formerly Fermata Xtream) released version 1.6.0, adding an experimental feature that lets users send videos from their phone directly to their car screen. The update also introduces a Winamp-inspired music visualizer with nine styles, available to both free and premium users.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-07
A review of wireless Android Auto examines how the cable-free setup pairs automatically once a car starts, freeing up cabin space and removing the hassle of plugging in a phone each trip. However, it notes that going wireless increases battery drain, can cause noticeable heat buildup on longer drives, and depends heavily on both phone hardware and vehicle compatibility, particularly in older cars.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-06
Honda's Prologue EV is essentially a rebadged Chevrolet Blazer EV, built on the same GM underpinnings but sold with a key difference: it retains Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, which GM stripped from its own EVs in favor of a Google-built Android Automotive OS. This near-identical pairing of vehicles, one with phone mirroring and one without, has effectively created an unplanned real-world test of how much consumers value that feature.
a.wholelottanothing.org
· 2026-09-06
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