CarPlay & Android Auto have a stranglehold on the new car market
Andrew OrrTesla had one of the best infotainment systems
Recent data indicates that nearly every newly manufactured car now comes equipped with either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, responding to the growing consumer preference for these connectivity features.
A report from Straits Research found that 98% of newly produced vehicles were compatible with either CarPlay or Android Auto. Meanwhile, 80% of prospective car buyers strongly preferred having these smartphone-based infotainment systems in their new vehicles.
Automotive manufacturers increasingly embrace modular hardware architecture, which allows them to lower infotainment systems' costs. Additionally, they are actively developing technology to make integrating smartphone functionality into in-vehicle infotainment systems more affordable.
Tesla has one of the best infotainment systems worldwide, as demonstrated by an 86% satisfaction rate reported by surveyed owners. Similarly, BMW's iDrive has earned a noteworthy satisfaction rating of 80%.
However, General Motors is moving in the opposite direction with a partnership with Google to develop an infotainment system and cut out CarPlay and Android Auto. So, starting with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer, future electric vehicles from GM won't have smartphone-based systems for entertainment.
But the report also notes that the proliferation of infotainment systems has unfortunately contributed to a rise in distracted driving-related fatalities. In the United States alone, these fatalities increased by a staggering 22% in 2022, resulting in 3,142 deaths compared to 2021.
Overall, the Automotive Infotainment Systems Market in the U.S. is expected to grow at the rate of 6.26%, driven by Increasing demand for connectivity and seamless integration of advanced vehicle technologies.
In 2021, the global market for automotive infotainment systems was valued at $29 billion. According to the forecasted period, it is anticipated to reach $56 billion, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8% from 2022 to 2030.
As auto manufacturers work to add CarPlay and Android Auto into vehicles, Apple will unveil the next generation of CarPlay technology. Scheduled for release in 2023, CarPlay will function as an operating system designed specifically for cars.
It will assume control of the car's instrument cluster, displaying essential gauges such as fuel and oil levels, engine temperature, mileage per gallon, and additional information.
So far, partners for the new version include Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche, and Volvo.
David Schloss
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25 Comments
It will be interesting to see if CarPlay and Android Auto continue to dominate. Tesla has shown that you can sell premium cars without supporting either one, but it's still a relatively small player in car sales. The bigger test will be GM and whether its abandonment of both in favor of its own system will hurt sales. Personally, a lack of CarPlay support is an non-starter. I was a loyal Lexus customer for more than a decade, but when it came time for a new car in 2019 and Lexus STILL wasn't supporting CarPlay, I switched to Acura. Of course, now Lexus supports it, but they've lost me as a customer. I absolutely would have shopped GM because of their superior self-driving tech in some models, but now I wouldn't even consider a GM car without CarPlay.
Years ago I walked out of the Toyota dealership because back then Toyota did not have CarPlay. Sales ppl said they had something better. I drove over to Honda and bought a Honda instead.
I will not buy a car without the CarPlay.
Having used the Tesla UI for 6 years now, I'm used to it where it's actually easier for me to use than the CarPlay UI. I agree that most manufacturers OEM infotainment systems are hot trash though. Tesla's UI is just much better than all other OEM UI's out there. It's not perfect (even CarPlay has issues) but it's good.
I wonder what it is that Tesla owners find so satisfactory about their infotainment systems, or why drivers of other cars are not as satisfied with theirs. I find the Tesla systems lack others, especially CarPlay.
The navigation is terrible, its just a top down view with confusing (and sometimes contradicting) step by step directions - like Apple Maps 5 years ago. Granted, it now has Apple Music, but if you share a car, your wife destroys your algorithm because you cannot switch easily to her Apple Music account. Sure, Tesla can integrate your Contacts and Calendar, but again, no way to switch easily in a shared car. Sending texts is possible, but cumbersome. Not to mention that there are no Audiobooks, WhatsApp, etc.