All articles tagged with #infotainment
Porsche has released a new generation of its Classic Communication Management Plus (PCCM Plus) system, bringing wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to over 300,000 vehicles from 2009 to 2016. The upgrade features a 7-inch touchscreen that integrates with existing steering wheel controls and instrument clusters, preserving the original interior aesthetic while adding modern connectivity, navigation, and audio features.
Porsche has expanded its Classic Communication Management Plus (PCCM Plus) retrofit program to cover 911, Boxster, and Cayman models from 2009 to 2016. The new double-DIN units feature a 7-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 4G connectivity. Designed to integrate seamlessly with existing steering wheel controls and instrument clusters, the system aims to modernize older vehicles without altering their interior aesthetics. Available at Porsche Centers, the upgrade includes over-the-air map updates and satellite navigation, though pricing has not yet been disclosed.
Automakers are quietly moving away from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to take full control of their infotainment systems and the ad revenue they can generate, with estimates up to $625 billion. BMW and other brands are shifting toward in-house software, while Tesla and Rivian continue with their own systems, signaling a potential end to the era of external platform domination.
GM revamps its infotainment with a higher-contrast UI and will integrate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto alongside native apps, signaling a shift away from the prior plan to drop them; the update kicks off in trucks before expanding, while the digest also reports Land Rover using Stellantis for a U.S.-built Defender pickup to dodge the Chicken Tax, Toyota Highlander’s next-generation EV delay pushing into 2027 with the current gas model ending by year-end, BMW adding 3D ADAS visualizations, Waymo planning a Tokyo autonomous taxi launch by 2027, and a costly Fiat 500 restomod in the UK.
GM will debut a split-screen infotainment UI in the 2027 Silverado and Sierra that lets CarPlay and Android Auto run alongside the vehicle’s gauges on a large display, keeping support for gas-powered GM vehicles while exploring more deeply integrated software experiences.
GM has introduced a next-generation, software-defined in-cabin UI that will debut on the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and 2027 GMC Sierra, featuring high-contrast, scalable displays, a reimagined multi-view home screen with navigation and trailering data, mode-aware instrument clusters, and 3D driving visualization linked to Super Cruise. The system emphasizes simple, fast access, hands-free controls, and seamless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay integration, plus built-in Google apps and passenger-content screens. Built on an OTA-updatable software foundation, the UI aims to evolve over time and includes specialized towing features like hands-free trailering, Hitch View, and trailer-light checks, with mobile app integration for trailer management.
GM is updating the software in its Silverado and Sierra trucks to display CarPlay and Android Auto inside a large picture‑in‑picture card, while keeping GM’s native infotainment for trailering and other controls. The 2027 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 will launch with the new UI later this year for new customers, featuring bigger buttons, smoother transitions, and trailer‑aware navigation; existing owners will keep the older interface. The move marks GM’s return to phone mirroring in its trucks after years of not supporting CarPlay/Android Auto in EVs, aiming to reduce distractions and improve usability on the trucks’ expansive screens.
GM will debut a new in-vehicle infotainment system with the redesigned 2027 Silverado and Sierra, featuring a smartphone-like interface that surfaces key controls, a window-in-window integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a major upgrade to the Super Cruise display, as part of a broader shift to a design-led digital experience across its vehicles.
GM is removing Apple CarPlay (and Android Auto) from its latest EVs and plans to drop CarPlay from gas models around 2028 when it rolls out its own centralized Android Automotive-based system, aiming for deeper in-car integration and data control—including EV charging-aware navigation—without relying on a smartphone. CarPlay Ultra remains a broader cockpit solution but is slow to spread and currently requires an iPhone, with Aston Martin offering it so far and other brands showing interest. Despite CarPlay’s broad availability today, GM’s move signals a shift toward native software ecosystems and ongoing data-privacy considerations.
The piece argues for optional UI themes in Teslas, suggesting themes could alter layouts and aesthetics (neon Cyberpunk, minimalist, earthy) and potentially affect functionality. Given Tesla's Linux-based infotainment stack and use of HTML/CSS/JS across apps, swapping CSS stylesheets could implement themes. Tesla already allows customization (lock sounds, wraps, car visuals), and themes could improve usability with high-contrast or accessibility options and could be exposed in Display/Toybox settings as opt-in skins.
BMW is rolling out a limited-time Spider-Man promotional video inside its post-2020 infotainment systems. When drivers start their car, a prompt triggers an ad for Spider-Man: Brand New Day that can be skipped but remains accessible via the display, as part of a Marvel-BMW partnership.
BMW started displaying a promotional Spider-Man ad on its in-car infotainment screen during startup in more than 70 markets, with a skip option but a QR prompt that drivers must see before using maps or audio. The intrusive campaign drew widespread complaints as a breach of trust, and runs through August 10, reflecting BMW’s ongoing forays into monetizing features; Jeep faced similar criticisms last year for in-car ads.
A TikTok reveals that newer Toyota models hide a diagnostic screen inside the infotainment system. Access requires turning the radio off, enabling the display, and swiping edge-to-edge five times in one direction and five in the opposite until the hidden diagnostic menu appears, which can check mic, touchscreen, backup camera, sensors, and production info. The feature is finicky and should only be used by certified Toyota technicians, since changing settings without expertise can cause issues.
A practical CarPlay troubleshooting guide that walks you through simple fixes: restart your iPhone and your car, make sure CarPlay opens on the car’s display, verify Siri is enabled and that iOS is up to date, and allow CarPlay while the phone is locked. For wired CarPlay, test a different USB port and a data-capable cable, inspect and clean USB ports, and avoid adapters; for wireless CarPlay, ensure Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi are on and Auto-join is enabled. Check Screen Time restrictions and your car’s own CarPlay settings, then re-pair the connection (forget this car, then pair again) and, if needed, update the car stereo firmware or perform a factory reset as a last resort. If problems persist, contact Apple or the car maker.
Android Auto hides a developer menu that can be accessed quickly, giving options like a wireless toggle and an Unknown Sources switch to allow non‑Play Store apps on the car display, plus features to force video resolution. While useful for power users to gain more control, some options (e.g., saving video/audio or microphone input) can strain the phone and aren’t meant for everyday use; for many drivers, enabling wireless and Unknown Sources offers practical benefits without official endorsement.