Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are two of the most widespread and popular tech features in new cars today, and buyers aren’t shy about speaking their minds on the tech. A recent McKinsey & Co. survey found that around a third of buyers would not purchase a car without the smartphone mirroring features.
The survey showed that 30 percent of global EV buyers and 35 percent of gas buyers said a lack of smartphone mirroring tech would be a disqualifier for a new vehicle. The picture is similar here in the U.S., where 25 percent and 38 percent said the same, respectively.
Some said they’d be willing to pay extra for the privilege, but the results highlight how difficult the situation could be for any automaker brave enough to remove the tech from new models. General Motors had to stop sales of the Blazer EV to fix software issues, but even without that hurdle, the automaker’s decision to remove Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from new EVs raised many eyebrows.
The two interfaces function similarly, mirroring their respective smartphones’ screens on vehicles’ in-dash infotainment systems. Some automakers, including Toyota, were slow to adopt the technology over user privacy concerns, but a significant number of new cars come with both. Apple has boosted CarPlay’s functionality in recent years, adding additional vehicle controls and more display screen capabilities, giving automakers pause as the tech giant wrests more control out of their hands.
[Images: Apple, Infiniti, Porsche]
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