‘We’re Not Selling Monitors’: GM Doubles Down On Anti CarPlay Move

[securityguy]

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2024/11/were-not-selling-monitors-gm-doubles-down-on-anti-carplay-move/

 

[ZR2BIZON]

The comments section is as heated as our "AmsOil sucks farts, change my mind" debates here.

 

[twiget]

I've been thinking that my Bison might be the last brand new vehicle I buy, and this definitely helps to solidify that decision.

Everyone is focused on the lack of Car Play or Android Auto but I think that's missing the mark. Tesla doesn't offer either of those and no one is complaining, though from that I've heard and seen, Tesla's infotainment system is top notch. I still have gaps in the Bluetooth audio in my truck that the dealer seems to have no clue how to fix.

My big worry comes from this sentence:

However, as GM outlined in 2022, the automaker seeks to generate $20 billion to $25 billion in annual revenue from subscription services by the 2030 calendar year, and leveraging an in-house infotainment system is undoubtedly a major component of that.

GM seems to think nickle and dimeing their customers for "subscriptions" is going to be a huge money maker for them and building their own infotainment system will allow them to bake subscriptions deep into the software. I refuse to purchase a vehicle from a manufacturer that thinks Enshittification is a valid business strategy.

 

[MrScottly]

BMW instituted a pay-to-play system on their heated seats...It flew like a lead balloon and they are probably going to abandon it. I am now old enough to recognize just how many things and how many "plays" the auto business has made at increasing the amount of money they empty out of consumer's pockets...and I'm now trying to decide if I am finally sick of it.

Used to be the dealers negotiated the gross profit on a car with a customer. Then they added holdback and shrunk the gross.

Used to be the F&I guy was a finance and insurance specialist, helping you to get both. Now he sells you a loan higher than the buy rate and profits from it, while also "helping" you get insurance, GAP, service contracts, paint protection, etc etc etc.....The average dealer makes 40% of it's profit in the F&I office now.

Now when you buy a car, they won't let you get off the lot before they set up Google and the Onstar crap...The damn sales guy won't get paid unless he does it. I don't mind helpin' a brudda out, but this takes so much time to do I feel like it's not really my problem anymore.

Keep screwing us consumers...We're getting tired of it and most importantly, getting louder about it.

 

[securityguy]

BMW instituted a pay-to-play system on their heated seats...It flew like a lead balloon and they are probably going to abandon it. I am now old enough to recognize just how many things and how many "plays" the auto business has made at increasing the amount of money they empty out of consumer's pockets...and I'm now trying to decide if I am finally sick of it.

Used to be the dealers negotiated the gross profit on a car with a customer. Then they added holdback and shrunk the gross.

Used to be the F&I guy was a finance and insurance specialist, helping you to get both. Now he sells you a loan higher than the buy rate and profits from it, while also "helping" you get insurance, GAP, service contracts, paint protection, etc etc etc.....The average dealer makes 40% of it's profit in the F&I office now.

Now when you buy a car, they won't let you get off the lot before they set up Google and the Onstar crap...The damn sales guy won't get paid unless he does it. I don't mind helpin' a brudda out, but this takes so much time to do I feel like it's not really my problem anymore.

Keep screwing us consumers...We're getting tired of it and most importantly, getting louder about it.

So very well said my new friend!!!

 

[pcarpenter]

These guys don't get it.

(1) There is absolutely no way a GM developed system will be as good as apple play (and Apple play has plenty of flaws).
(2) I will NEVER pay for a subscription for this service. I was going to sign up for Google when I first bought my truck (just to see what they offered). The cost was absolutely ridiculous.
(3) If GM makes this change, it will simply be a matter of time before they abandon it

 

[ZR2NYC]

I've been thinking that my Bison might be the last brand new vehicle I buy, and this definitely helps to solidify that decision.

Everyone is focused on the lack of Car Play or Android Auto but I think that's missing the mark. Tesla doesn't offer either of those and no one is complaining, though from that I've heard and seen, Tesla's infotainment system is top notch. I still have gaps in the Bluetooth audio in my truck that the dealer seems to have no clue how to fix.

My big worry comes from this sentence:


GM seems to think nickle and dimeing their customers for "subscriptions" is going to be a huge money maker for them and building their own infotainment system will allow them to bake subscriptions deep into the software. I refuse to purchase a vehicle from a manufacturer that thinks Enshittification is a valid business strategy.

100%

 

[ZR2NYC]

These guys don't get it.

(1) There is absolutely no way a GM developed system will be as good as apple play (and Apple play has plenty of flaws).
(2) I will NEVER pay for a subscription for this service. I was going to sign up for Google when I first bought my truck (just to see what they offered). The cost was absolutely ridiculous.
(3) If GM makes this change, it will simply be a matter of time before they abandon it

google sucks.. gm embedded nav was second to none. fuck google!

 

[Byrds8]

google sucks.. gm embedded nav was second to none. fuck google!

Damn straight!

 

[8ball_99]

I seriously doubt they will stick to this. It will cost them sales. The way infotainment is integrated now you are basically stuck with it. Which i think is already bad. Car play and Android auto atleast let's you keep most of the same functionality and features vehicle to vehicle. Learned my lesson a few years ago with a Toyota and their proprietary navigation. Was terrible and a big part of why we got rid of the car.

Tesla is the only exception. Their system is actually better then AA or CP. But I highly doubt GM could actually implement anything even equal to AA or CP. It's just a cash grab by them. They are just trying to charge more, not actually offer more. Force you to pay a subscription for services that are already included with your cellphone service.

 

[ZR2BIZON]

I seriously doubt they will stick to this. It will cost them sales. The way infotainment is integrated now you are basically stuck with it. Which i think is already bad. Car play and Android auto atleast let's you keep most of the same functionality and features vehicle to vehicle. Learned my lesson a few years ago with a Toyota and their proprietary navigation. Was terrible and a big part of why we got rid of the car.

Tesla is the only exception. Their system is actually better then AA or CP. But I highly doubt GM could actually implement anything even equal to AA or CP. It's just a cash grab by them. They are just trying to charge more, not actually offer more. Force you to pay a subscription for services that are already included with your cellphone service.

I agree no one is close to Tesla. GM plays it too safe and ends up shooting themselves in the foot along with us die hard GM fans.

They need new blood designing infotainment systems.

 

[Millertime1977]

IIRC the app functionality when I bought my truck was stated as like 3 years.

 

[DNZR2]

Harley Davidson went proprietary on their radio / nav a while back which is why I still have my 2017 Ultra. If GM goes the same route, I won’t get a newer truck either.

 

[KLA]

I just read the whole article and what I understood was that GM is phasing out AA and CP from their future EV'S. Doesn't say anything about their normal ICE vehicles. Now, if it goes over well in their Electric vehicles, I'm sure they will try to implement the same infotainment system in their ICE vehicles also.

 

[geddyflea]

I just had the latest recall abortion downloaded to my truck and it's all kinds of screwed up! I can't imagine them trying to create and implement their own infotainment system and expect it to work.

 

[AXE]

BMW instituted a pay-to-play system on their heated seats...It flew like a lead balloon and they are probably going to abandon it. I am now old enough to recognize just how many things and how many "plays" the auto business has made at increasing the amount of money they empty out of consumer's pockets...and I'm now trying to decide if I am finally sick of it.

Used to be the dealers negotiated the gross profit on a car with a customer. Then they added holdback and shrunk the gross.

Used to be the F&I guy was a finance and insurance specialist, helping you to get both. Now he sells you a loan higher than the buy rate and profits from it, while also "helping" you get insurance, GAP, service contracts, paint protection, etc etc etc.....The average dealer makes 40% of it's profit in the F&I office now.

Now when you buy a car, they won't let you get off the lot before they set up Google and the Onstar crap...The damn sales guy won't get paid unless he does it. I don't mind helpin' a brudda out, but this takes so much time to do I feel like it's not really my problem anymore.

Keep screwing us consumers...We're getting tired of it and most importantly, getting louder about it.

People used to get really mad at me when I posted about how shitty the infotainment system and electronics are on the trucks. They thought I was being disloyal to GM and got their feelings hurt and cried about comments. I still haven't let up and occasionally someone will misinterpret my point, which is simply for GM to do better cause we as customers are fed up with janky shit that Barra is delivering while producing record revenue, stock prices, and stock buybacks.

I've just gotten four of these safety recalls in the last week, my service advisor has told me there are more than these on my 3 vehicles. I will invest multiple days to resolve all this shit at my dealer.

Now that "mean tweets" are back, I look forward to sharing more opinions with you and GM in the future! Also, I offer this timely investment advice.......buy Bitcoin during 2020 COVID lock downs.

 

[KLA]

Yep..."our highest priority is ensuring that you get the best driving experience possible"

 

[twiget]

I just read the whole article and what I understood was that GM is phasing out AA and CP from their future EV'S. Doesn't say anything about their normal ICE vehicles. Now, if it goes over well in their Electric vehicles, I'm sure they will try to implement the same infotainment system in their ICE vehicles also.View attachment 17676

I think they are testing the waters with doing this only on EV's. EV buyers are still early adopters IMO, and early adopters are typically more willing to put up with BS as a technology gets the kinks worked out. If nobody complains about a subscription fee to roll down the windows via your key fob, or whatever else inane BS GM thinks they can charge for, then it'll probably get rolled out to legacy ICE buyers too. Plus, in the increasingly unlikely event that GM does go 100% electric by 2035, this could be the future for everyone.

 

[ZR2NYC]

I think they are testing the waters with doing this only on EV's. EV buyers are still early adopters IMO, and early adopters are typically more willing to put up with BS as a technology gets the kinks worked out. If nobody complains about a subscription fee to roll down the windows via your key fob, or whatever else inane BS GM thinks they can charge for, then it'll probably get rolled out to legacy ICE buyers too. Plus, in the increasingly unlikely event that GM does go 100% electric by 2035, this could be the future for everyone.

not likely.

 

[twiget]

Which part? I do believe that if GM can bake subscription fees into EV's and make money off of it, ICE customers won't be far behind.

BMW's already taken it a step further, they are starting to charge a subscription fee in some European countries to unlock the performance suspension that's already installed on the car.