A new user interface in the 2027 Silverado and Sierra continues to support smartphone mirroring, and it could come to other vehicles.
Update: The earlier version of this story suggested that GM was rolling out the software across its lineup, but the company has yet to confirm the new UI in other vehicles beyond trucks. An official statement from a GM spokesperson has been added.
In 2023, General Motors announced plans to ditch Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support in all of its vehicles. Obviously, the internet was not happy. The automaker started with its electric vehicles, doubling down on the decision less than a year ago. But now appears GM may be having second thoughts.
GM is introducing a new user interface on the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and 2027 GMC Sierra that includes CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, integrating it into the automaker’s native user interface. The two systems run side by side, with the UI casting the phone into a large window that occupies most of the infotainment screen.
The new setup lets users access GM’s proprietary system and CarPlay/Android without navigating between multiple screens, especially while driving. Once the new UI arrives on GM’s trucks, the automaker says it hopes to expand “across the broader portfolio.”
GM says that the scalable foundation “can extend across electric, gas, and diesel-powered vehicles,” which would signal a sharp reversal from its earlier plan. Though that’s not an outright confirmation that CarPlay will return to the entire GM portfolio. In a statement to Motor1, a GM spokesperson said:
‘A “scalable foundation” is intended to convey flexibility of the framework, not signify future implementations. The 2027 light-duty pickups are our highest-volume vehicles and among the most important in our portfolio, so that’s where the team’s focused. And because these are gas-powered trucks, they were always going to support CarPlay and Android Auto. Now, the experience is more integrated, so drivers can enjoy native and CarPlay/AA features on the same screen.’
GM’s New User Interface With Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Support
Not only are Apple and Android still around, but GM has reimagined the UI to be far more intuitive.
The new display features high-contrast hardware, making it easier to see important vehicle information at a glance. This includes a mode-aware gauge cluster that reflects the current drive mode and displays the appropriate details, such as when off-roading or using Super Cruise, which gets an upgrade.
The UI features new 3D visualizations for Super Cruise that show traffic, lane markers, and more in detail. This allows drivers to see what the vehicle detects in real time.
The infotainment display has a redesigned home screen with a default split-view layout. When not mirroring your smartphone, occupants can manage various vehicle settings while navigation remains visible on the display, including quick-access controls.
Motor1’s Take: Smartphone mirroring is one of those must-have features for many consumers, and GM dropping it always seemed like a boneheaded move. The automaker cited how poor the experience is for drivers when having to switch between CarPlay and the native system, but it appears GM has figured out how to offer both at the same time.
CarPlay Confusion
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