November 05, 2024 – In a recent conversation released by The Verge, Baris Cetinok, Senior Vice President at General Motors (GM) responsible for software and services, product management, project management, and design, shared his insights on the company’s strategic decisions regarding in-car technology.
Having joined GM from Apple just over a year ago, Cetinok emphasized GM’s position as a holistic hardware, software, and services company. He highlighted the company’s track record in creating beautifully designed vehicles, impressive fuel engines and electric motors, stunning interior designs, and software and services such as OnStar.
When discussing GM’s decision to phase out support for Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto, Cetinok expressed strong confidence in the move. “We have a belief, and I genuinely believe, that we are best suited and have the responsibility to create the deepest vehicle experience for our customers,” he said. “We’re not just putting out devices with screens because we’re not a display company. We’re building a beautifully designed car with a complete philosophy and a strong conviction. Our philosophy is that this car is designed to perform a set of functions brilliantly.”
Cetinok further elaborated that for users seeking an “ultimate” seamless experience, it would be difficult to imagine having to switch to a completely different interface to select a podcast while using assisted driving features.
He also pointed out that with the advent of L3 and L4 levels of autonomous driving, which “may require deep integration,” it is essential that the autonomous driving system is connected to the map to identify lane positions. However, when using CarPlay or Android Auto, users may find that their maps are not fully integrated with the vehicle itself.
As previously reported, in March 2023, GM announced that it would gradually phase out support for Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto in its future models, starting with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer. Instead, the company has opted to develop a customized infotainment system based on Android Automotive, in partnership with Google.
