Drivers and auto makers alike have enjoyed Car Play since its inception, but many manufacturers are turning their backs now. Gabriel Nica/Shutterstock Apple Car Play has given drivers a great alternative to clunky car infotainment systems for over a decade. It has a simple premise: connect your i Phone and use the apps you already know.

Like Android Auto, Car Play is a service that vehicle manufacturers have adopted in great numbers and with relative enthusiasm — at least, until lately. Some of those same manufacturers are starting to backtrack. General Motors, for instance, has been removing Car Play from its EVs and plans to phase it out completely.

Tesla and Rivian have never offered support for it, although Tesla has reportedly tested out Car Play. Removing Car Play erases a layer of convenience for you as the driver. But for the manufacturer, it gives greater control over data and the services you use.

Automakers might argue that removing it provides better integration with the car, but with Car Play Ultra looking to close the gap, this disagreement is likely going to get bigger. Apple Car Play became the best way around bad car software Hadrian/Shutterstock Apple Car Play's biggest strength is consistency. You can step into any compatible car and, no matter the type of display or its size, you'll see the same interface.

The apps you use on your phone, along with your contacts, are all accessible. You don't need to port anything or create new accounts to get going. Drivers don't need to worry about whether built-in infotainment systems are any good, since you can ignore them with Car Play.

Before the the Car Play and Android Auto era, drivers were stuck with whatever infotainment system the manufacturer had built. This wasn't consistent, nor were many long-lasting: My Ford Touch on Ford and Lincoln cars lasted just five years. BMW, meanwhile, tried to charge $80 a year for access to Car Play.

Navigation was a common problem with older systems. Maps would quickly become out-of-date and sometimes required a costly fee to update. It made sense for manufacturers to add Car Play (and Android Auto) support to their vehicles: they could hand over the bulk of functionality to Apple's (or Google's) system while focusing on other areas.

Apple Car Play now supports over 800 different models, so the arrangement has certainly taken hold. For manufacturers, though, handing over the dashboard to Apple has become a bit of a problem. Electric cars in particular require much more integration between the dashboard software and the vehicle itself.

A whole host of features on EVs aren't an ideal fit for Apple Car Play, including battery preconditioning and manufacturer-specific charging controls. Standard Car Play sits on top of the car's own software to effectively act as a mirroring app for your phone, and you may need to leave it if you need a feature Apple's solution doesn't support. Car Play support matters to drivers.

Apple claimed at WWDC 2022 that 79 percent of car buyers wouldn't choose a model without Car Play support, while a more recent survey suggested losing Car Play was a 'deal breaker' for 55 percent of its users. The consistency makes Car Play familiar and easy to use. For those making the cars, though, Apple controlling the parts of the on-screen experience we see and use the most means manufacturers have less control and power.

Some companies are deciding that this compromise no longer works for them. GM wants complete control over the in-car experience Smith Collection/gado/Getty Images General Motors is the one making the biggest pivot with Car Play so far. It's already begun the process by removing Car Play and rival Android Auto support from its newest electric models, including the Chevrolet Blazer EV.

It's also expected to begin removing support from gas-.