Apple Carplay and @Android Auto on GM Vehicles – How Smartphone OS Voice Assistant IVE are invading Hands-Free Driving Space

As predicted in my Geezam blog article entitled “Android Auto and Apple Carplay coming to Chevrolet and Cadillac 2016 Models” Americans are going to discover the joys of Apple Carplay and Android Auto as their vehicle IVE (In-Vehicle Entertainment).

GM (General Motors), taking their cue from Chervolet, are now planning to introduce Apple Carplay to their 2016 line of vehicles as reported in the article “Apple CarPlay is coming to Buick and GMC, Android Auto not far behind”, published June 23, 2015 by Antuan Goodwin, CNET News. 

GM vehicles use the IntelliLink IVE also a variety of screen sizes ranging from 7” to 8”, very similar (and easy to confuse) with the Chevrolet MyLink IVE. So Apple Carplay coming to GM's GMC and Buick models wasn't so hard to forsee.

Apple Carplay is making its debut on the following GMC 2016 models:

1.      Canyon

2.      Sierra

3.      Yukon

Their functionality is no different from Chevrolet and Cadillac, as Carplay will have the same icons driven interface complemented by Siri Voice Assistant to ensure hands-free driving while accessing the following:

1.      Apps

2.      Dashboard Functions

3.      Music

4.      Navigation

5.      Notifications

6.      Text messaging

Most interesting of all is the toggle feature in IntelliLink that allows you to switch seamlessly between Apple Carplay and Android Auto, if you have different family members that have different smartphones.

It also supports OnStar 4G LTE to allow for OTA (Over the Air) updates. Not so fond of this, as that means you’ll have to have a separate Data plan for your vehicle.

Apple Carplay and Android Auto on GM Vehicles – Sophisticated Voice Assistants for Hands-Free Driving

Good to note that the base model of the GMC Sierra uses a 7” screen IntelliLink IVE and Android Auto will eventually be coming to GM through the rest of 2015.

Apple's icon based system with minimal physical interaction thanks to Siri Voice Assistant which will go head-to-head with Android Auto. Android Auto resembles Microsoft Windows Phone display with a little-based interface but differs with a more intelligent Google Now Voice Assistant!

Carplay is also coming to GM's Buick 2016 models as well:

1.      Regal

2.      LaCrosse

The only difference here is that these Buick models use the 8” IntelliLink IVE. No doubt more American auto companies will make similar announcements later in 2015 about their 2016 models adopting Apple Carplay and Android Auto as Hands-free become more intelligent and Voice-Activated!