“The last two months have seen an unprecedented cavalcade of automakers hosting events in Silicon Valley, where they all did some variant of the same thing. What is this same thing? Launching electric cars? Launching self-driving cars?” Anton Wahlman writes for TheStreet. “No and no.”
“General Motors announced that it is rolling out Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in essentially all its cars over an 18-month period. The rollout starts this month and should cover almost half of GM’s cars by 2015 year-end, with almost 100% covered at the end of 2016 when the 2017 model year cars go into production,” Wahlman writes. “After Google’s annual developer conference, Audi invited journalists to its Silicon Valley R&D facility to look at the all-new Q7 SUV, which will have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay when it arrives in U.S. dealerships in early 2016. The car is going on sale in Europe right now. Other Audis will get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay later in 2016 and going into 2017.”
Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Volvo… they’re rolling out Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, too.
“Until now, it’s fair to say that general public awareness of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay has been near zero. This may not last long,” Wahlman writes. “Folks, this is the biggest story in the automotive industry right now…”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote back in April:
Apple’s CarPlay is (finally) the right strategy (as is Google’s knockoff of it). Most vehicles will eventually come with support for both CarPlay and derivative mobile operating systems, since car makers want to make their vehicles accessible to everybody. Well, maybe the luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes, etc. could skip the Android integration (not much demographic overlap there), but the Kias and Chevy’s of the world will want to make sure they can support iPhone knockoffs, too.
SEE ALSO:
2016 Honda Accord delivers Apple CarPlay – July 24, 2015
Apple’s CarPlay success shows the power of having a long-term strategy – March 15, 2015
Apple’s real CarPlay: Cupertino doesn’t need to build cars in order to reinvent driving – February 28, 2015
Ford drops reputation-scorching Microsoft Sync, enables support for Apple’s sought-after CarPlay – December 12, 2014
Apple’s CarPlay looks like the future of in-car infotainment – April 13, 2014
I don’t think Google should be in the same spot as apple in the automaker industry (or any other industry as a mater of fact).
The fact that car companies are offering both options does not means people are using both options.
Android users don’t have money to spend on their phones and you are expecting to have money to buy a car?
Android needs an ODB1 connection for 1980s GM butt rock machines like the 88′ IROC to nail their demographic 😉
No Android in my Vette. Last thing I need is malware at 200 MPH.
I don’t know anyone with an Android phone who has a car. I know they exist, but there’s a pretty good correlation with car ownership and the iPhone in the USA.
Congratulations. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve read all day.
I think the biggest story in the automobile world right now is a Chinese company just revealed a Tesla clone called the Ranger X. It will go into production later this year and start at $35,000. The top tier model will be more expensive and do 280 miles on a charge.