Inside the battle for your car’s infotainment system

Poor car-model rollouts aren’t just relegated to Fisker: GM’s new 2024 Chevy Blazer EV is also going through it. Sales of the model were suspended from January–March, while the automaker worked to resolve issues with the car’s infotainment software.

This all came about after GM gave Apple CarPlay (and Android Auto) the boot in favor of an in-house platform called Ultifi. GM is betting that its own software group, led by recruits from Apple, Amazon, and Google, can create a better in-car experience and eventually cash in via digital sales. The automaker projects that digital services will bring in as much as $25 billion annually by 2030.

But, the system’s initial struggles aside, that could be a tall order. According to Apple, as of 2022, 79% of US car buyers would only consider purchasing cars that were CarPlay compatible.

• Rivian: “Hold my beer.” The EV-maker has been able to change many customers’ minds after users experience its in-house software.

The infotainment battle is in full-swing. As Apple tries to burrow further into the cockpit – the company’s latest version of CarPlay syncs with onboard sensors to manage vehicle settings, climate control, and even oil and gas gauges – many automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, are trying to James Bond-ejector seat its software in favor of in-house solutions.