GM Killed the Only Apple CarPlay Retrofit for Its EVs

General Motors really doesn’t want you using Apple CarPlay in its electric vehicles. The company infamously launched its new infotainment system without the technology in 2023, and now the auto conglomerate is shutting down one of the only aftermarket workarounds.

White Automotive & Media Services launched an Apple CarPlay and Android Auto retrofit for GM’s Ultium EVs back in November. It worked like a factory CarPlay setup, with wired and wireless connections, as well as projections across all screens. It was so complex, though, that it required a dealer installation, and only one dealership in the country offered it as an option: LaFontaine Chevrolet in Plymouth, Michigan.

GM Authority reported earlier this week that White Automotive had discontinued the product, but it was unclear why. The company issued a statement on its website, saying:

“We have made the difficult decision to discontinue this product. Rather than removing it from our website entirely, we wanted to leave this notice so customers are aware of its discontinuation. This was not a decision we made lightly, but due to a variety of factors, continuing to offer this product is no longer viable in the long term.”

Now, The Drive reports that White Automotive discontinued the product due to pressure from GM. The automaker reportedly instructed LaFontaine Chevrolet to stop offering the aftermarket kit. A spokesperson from GM told The Drive that the CarPlay retrofit could interfere with “critical safety features and may also void portions of the vehicle’s warranty.”

It’s unclear what this means for customers who already paid to have the technology installed, but a GM software update in the near future would likely make it null and void.

Source:

GM Authority via The Drive