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GM Restores CarPlay and Android Auto to Trucks, Redesigns Interface for Coexistence
Confirmed
In Short: General Motors is bringing back Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to its trucks, three years after removing them from its electric vehicles, as part of a redesigned infotainment system.
GM is bringing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto back to its trucks, three years after pulling phone projection from its EVs entirely. The move, however, is limited to the redesigned 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, with existing truck owners retaining their current infotainment systems. According to AndroidPure, the new software allows native GM software and phone projection to coexist, with CarPlay and Android Auto no longer taking over the entire screen. Instead, the home screen's phone icon switches to a CarPlay icon, opening the app within a split view that also shows the truck's native home button.
The redesigned interface is designed to provide a more seamless experience for drivers, with the central infotainment screen running on Android Automotive OS. The home screen now features a split view showing music and navigation apps, with a full map view. To the left is another card for accessing other native apps, and the passenger infotainment screen can pair with Bluetooth headphones. Additionally, the system includes a full web browser and allows the smartphone to function as a keyboard or input device.
The new infotainment system debuts in the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and 2027 GMC Sierra pickup trucks, marking a significant update to GM's truck lineup. CEO Mary Barra had previously suggested that the ban on CarPlay and Android Auto could extend to gas-powered trucks and SUVs, but this move appears to be a partial reversal, aimed at addressing customer feedback and enhancing the driving experience.
What's confirmed
- GM is bringing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto back to its trucks, three years after pulling phone projection from its EVs entirely. The move, however, is limited to the redesigned 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, with existing truck owners retaining their current infotainment systems. According to AndroidPure, the new software allows native GM software and phone projection to coexist, with CarPlay and Android Auto no longer taking over the entire screen. Instead, the home screen's phone icon switches to a CarPlay icon, opening the app within a split view that also shows the truck's native home button.
- The redesigned interface is designed to provide a more seamless experience for drivers, with the central infotainment screen running on Android Automotive OS. The home screen now features a split view showing music and navigation apps, with a full map view. To the left is another card for accessing other native apps, and the passenger infotainment screen can pair with Bluetooth headphones. Additionally, the system includes a full web browser and allows the smartphone to function as a keyboard or input device.
- The new infotainment system debuts in the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and 2027 GMC Sierra pickup trucks, marking a significant update to GM's truck lineup. CEO Mary Barra had previously suggested that the ban on CarPlay and Android Auto could extend to gas-powered trucks and SUVs, but this move appears to be a partial reversal, aimed at addressing customer feedback and enhancing the driving experience.
What's still developing
- GM’s 2023 decision to drop CarPlay and Android Auto from its electric vehicles drew sustained pushback from customers.
- And the passenger infotainment screen will pair with Bluetooth headphones so the driver doesn’t necessarily have to listen to whatever it is, either. (Some information will show up on the main infotainment screen, so the driver will have an idea of what content is playing on the screen and decide whether to pass through audio to the truck’s speakers, GM told us.) It’s not just for watching video, though—there’s even a full web browser, and you can use your smartphone as a keyboard or input device.