Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
They say CarPlay and Android Auto have become must-have equipment in new cars, and many buyers wouldn't even consider a new model without phone mirroring.
Apple's data shows that approximately eight in ten new-car buyers would reconsider their purchase if the vehicle they planned to get lacked CarPlay.
New research conducted by McKinsey & Co. confirms that Android Auto and CarPlay enjoy high adoption numbers among drivers, but despite what analysts and industry experts believe, the lack of these systems is not a deal-breaker. Literally, only 14% of the respondents said they would move to another brand if their favorite carmaker would no longer offer phone mirroring.
General Motors is the first name that comes to mind when discussing this approach. The General dropped Android Auto and CarPlay support in new EVs, beginning with the 2024 Blazer, offering Android Automotive without phone mirroring integration. GM says the embedded system supports more advanced capabilities, but critics claim the company is only interested in a subscription-based model, and Android Automotive offers the technical means to power this strategy.
The study reveals that only 30% of EV buyers worldwide and 25% in the US think Android Auto and CarPlay are must-have systems in their next purchase. Customers interested in combustion engines are more interested, yet not significantly more, in the two systems, with 35% and 38%, respectively, considering the lack of phone mirroring a deal breaker.
So, what would you do if Android Auto and CarPlay were removed from your car? The question didn't pose many challenges for respondents, as 52% said they would just switch to their mobile device. All apps are already available on the phone – smartphones are in charge of powering Android Auto and CarPlay – so installing it on the dashboard isn't such a major inconvenience. Only 35% said they would use the car's infotainment system, proving that drivers still don't think carmakers put enough effort into getting their software right.
However, car manufacturers can turn the support for Android Auto and CarPlay into a money-making machine, as new-car buyers wouldn't mind paying extra to get the two systems. 30% of the people shopping for an electric vehicle said they would agree with a fee to get Android Auto and CarPlay.
According to the findings, people who are still big fans of combustion engines are less willing to pay for these capabilities, with only 17% admitting they'd spend more to get phone mirroring in their next car.
Apple and Google didn't share adoption numbers for their phone mirroring systems, but the search giant recently revealed that Android Auto runs in over 200 million vehicles on the road, albeit it's unclear if the numbers include only factory-installed head units.
New research conducted by McKinsey & Co. confirms that Android Auto and CarPlay enjoy high adoption numbers among drivers, but despite what analysts and industry experts believe, the lack of these systems is not a deal-breaker. Literally, only 14% of the respondents said they would move to another brand if their favorite carmaker would no longer offer phone mirroring.
General Motors is the first name that comes to mind when discussing this approach. The General dropped Android Auto and CarPlay support in new EVs, beginning with the 2024 Blazer, offering Android Automotive without phone mirroring integration. GM says the embedded system supports more advanced capabilities, but critics claim the company is only interested in a subscription-based model, and Android Automotive offers the technical means to power this strategy.
The study reveals that only 30% of EV buyers worldwide and 25% in the US think Android Auto and CarPlay are must-have systems in their next purchase. Customers interested in combustion engines are more interested, yet not significantly more, in the two systems, with 35% and 38%, respectively, considering the lack of phone mirroring a deal breaker.
So, what would you do if Android Auto and CarPlay were removed from your car? The question didn't pose many challenges for respondents, as 52% said they would just switch to their mobile device. All apps are already available on the phone – smartphones are in charge of powering Android Auto and CarPlay – so installing it on the dashboard isn't such a major inconvenience. Only 35% said they would use the car's infotainment system, proving that drivers still don't think carmakers put enough effort into getting their software right.
However, car manufacturers can turn the support for Android Auto and CarPlay into a money-making machine, as new-car buyers wouldn't mind paying extra to get the two systems. 30% of the people shopping for an electric vehicle said they would agree with a fee to get Android Auto and CarPlay.
According to the findings, people who are still big fans of combustion engines are less willing to pay for these capabilities, with only 17% admitting they'd spend more to get phone mirroring in their next car.
Apple and Google didn't share adoption numbers for their phone mirroring systems, but the search giant recently revealed that Android Auto runs in over 200 million vehicles on the road, albeit it's unclear if the numbers include only factory-installed head units.
Google News