By VJ Bacungan
Smartphone mirroring systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have rapidly gained popularity among car owners because of the immense convenience they offer.
Given that everyone pretty much does everything on their smartphones, it was only natural that automakers adapted their vehicles to the immense capability of these devices. And with smartphone mirroring, you can do everything from sending messages through a voice-activated assistant or have real-time GPS navigation through Waze or Google Maps.
And when you’re sick and tired of babbling FM radio DJs during their banter segments, you can silence them by going straight to your favorite Spotify playlist in your phone. Gone are the days of piling flash drives, CDs or cassette tapes (remember those?) in your car.
But although technology like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto still remains a strong selling point in the Philippines, it may soon be superseded elsewhere in light of growing safety concerns.
GM says goodbye
American car giant General Motors (GM) drew gasps around the world when it announced on March 2023 that it would drop Android Auto and Apple CarPlay from its future lineup of vehicles.
The company said it would develop an in-house system co-developed with Google, which is also the creator of Android Auto. This new scheme started with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV, which has neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto.
Instead, the crossover’s infotainment system comes with eight years of data to run Google-based apps like Maps and Assistant, as well as Spotify and Audible. But a December 2023 report by U.S. automotive magazine Motor Trend gave more insight into this decision.
GM head of product for infotainment Tim Babbitt told the publication that stability issues with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, such as bad connections, poor rendering, slow response and dropped connections, force drivers to pick up their smartphones again.
Babbitt posited that using an in-house, built-in infotainment system would minimize these occurrences of distracted driving, helping the American automotive giant achieve its goal of zero crashes and zero road congestion.
Strangely, though, GM released a statement after the Motor Trend story was published, claiming that its position on phone projection was “misrepresented,” and it is reinforcing its “valued partnership with Apple and Google and each company’s commitment to driver safety.”
“GM’s embedded infotainment strategy is driven by the benefits of having a system that allows for greater integration with the larger GM ecosystem and vehicles,” the carmaker added.
Distraction kills
Nonetheless, Babbitt’s position makes an interesting and powerful point.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said in its 2018 Global Status Report on Road Safety that road crashes are the eighth leading cause of death globally, beating out diarrhea diseases and tuberculosis.
The group said 1.35 million people are killed and around 50 million people are injured annually in these entirely preventable incidents. But more chillingly, road crashes are the leading cause of death of young people aged 5 to 29, which is the generation that is immersed in smartphone technology.
And one of the major factors that the WHO identified as a cause of road crashes is distracted driving.
“The use of a mobile phone while driving is widespread among young and novice drivers and growing amongst motorcyclists, adding to the already high risk of crash and death among these groups,” the international organization said.
Keep your hands on the wheel
The Philippines has a dedicated law to prevent drivers from using their mobile devices while on the road.
Republic Act (R.A.) 10913 or the “Anti-Distracted Driving Act” lapsed into law on July 21, 2016 under the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III. The measure punishes those caught using their mobile devices while driving with fines of up to P30,000 and penalties that include the revocation of their driver’s license.
Technology like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto complies with R.A. 10913 because it allows drivers to operate their phones without having to hold them like in the olden days (back when phones had actual keys instead of a touchscreen).
But as Babbitt posited, the advantages of what should be hands-free technology would be outweighed if the driver would need to pick up his or her smartphone again because of a bad connection or slow response. Even I’ve had to check my phone when my Donna Summer playlist suddenly goes dead.
In fact, the WHO noted that hands-free systems for mobile devices still create sufficient distraction that could lead to crashes.
“Telephone use while driving (whether hand-held or hands-free) increases the likelihood of being involved in a crash by a factor of four, while texting increases crash risk by around 23 times,” the group said.
“Driver reaction times have also been shown to be 50% slower with telephone use than without,” the WHO added. “Similarly, in-car telephone conversations impair drivers more than listening to the radio or talking to passengers.”
What next?
So, what does the automotive industry have in store for smartphone users if the likes of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto would become outmoded?
Companies like GM, with their in-house software, intend to expand owners’ connectivity with their vehicles.
Drivers can, for instance, use voice-activated assistants to control everything from making calls and texts to changing the fan speed on the climate control system. This ensures maximum attention on the road, in combination with many active driving assists like adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking.
And there are other advantages for manufacturers who decide to do it on their own.
In GM’s case, having an in-house system would allow them to offer subscription services. Company CEO Mary Barra said she expects up to $25 billion (around P1.4 trillion, as of press time) a year in subscription revenue by 2030.
Additionally, an in-house system would allow GM to have more direct access to data from its customers on their driving habits. This is particularly useful in determining metrics like road crashes and usage patterns for the company’s electric vehicles (EV), which can both be sold to their parties like insurance companies.
Do you think more integrated systems from carmakers is the way to go or is there still life in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
