this post was submitted on 28 Dec 2025

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Why Are Cars Getting Rid Of Android Auto? (www.bgr.com)

submitted 10 months ago by themachinestops@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/technology@lemmy.world

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https://www.cars.com/articles/gm-to-remove-apple-carplay-android-auto-from-future-vehicles-517813/

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[–] smeg@infosec.pub 347 points 10 months ago (6 children)

Rent seeking behavior. They want subscription revenue instead of wanting to deliver what consumers want.

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[–] SnoringEarthworm@sh.itjust.works 213 points 10 months ago

For the most part, it's believed that carmakers are doing way with Android Auto support simply as a way to expand their control over user data. Because Android Auto utilizes your phone's connection, all of the data that runs through it goes straight to Android and the phone manufacturer. So, by utilizing built-in systems, the car manufacturers would indeed be able to collect more data about how you use the systems in place, while also possibly getting more money out of you through subscriptions.

You are unfortunately correct.

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[–] BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 23 points 10 months ago

And then carmakers will cry that Chinese cars are reading over the market.

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[–] ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world -4 points 10 months ago (3 children)

It's not free you know.

Yes, the software doesn't cost anything but the chipset is supplied by a single manufacturer Qualcomm and costs a bomb.

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[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

There's more than just Qualcomm in the ARM market.

Also, so what? Do you think the cars are currently sold at a loss? They profit on each car sold, and that includes the infotainment.

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[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

You can't run it on a Mediatek or a Rokchip or whatever?

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[–] smeg@infosec.pub 1 point 10 months ago

That's such an obvious deflection, though. My last car was a GM vehicle, with built-in OnStar right there in the box behind the rearview mirror. Built into the price I paid was hardware I didn't want, didn't pay a subscription for, yet was collecting my driving data and selling it.

Building a functionally useful infotainment system to replace Android Auto, with all of the bells and whistles needed to complete, is going to cost them the same or more. The difference is the rent seeking behavior, the demand for subscriptions, and getting more opportunities to spy on their customers for profit.

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