General Motors Hires Former Apple Executive to Lead Software After Announcing Plans to Nix CarPlay

[MacRumors]

General Motors (GM) has hired Mike Abbott, a former Apple executive responsible for the company's cloud services division, to lead a new software unit, just over a month after the automaker announced the controversial move to phase out Apple CarPlay on new vehicles (via CNBC).

After working at tech companies such as Twitter, Microsoft, and Palm, Apple hired Abbott in February 2018. He oversaw Apple's cloud infrastructure for services like iCloud, iMessage, and FaceTime before leaving the company in March.

Abbott's role at GM will encompass several key functions, including information and digital technology, software-defined vehicle and operating systems, and the company's digital business.

He will report directly to GM CEO Mary Barra. In a statement, Barra said "Mike's experience as a founder and entrepreneur coupled with his proven track record creating and delivering some of the market's most compelling software-defined solutions for consumers and companies make him an excellent fit at GM."

In March, GM announced plans to phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its vehicles starting this year, shifting to a built-in infotainment system co-developed with Google. The move is expected to help the automaker gather more data about how consumers drive, incentivize vehicle-related digital subscription services, and create recurring revenue opportunities. Abbott is said to play a key role in implementing this strategy.

Article Link: General Motors Hires Former Apple Executive to Lead Software After Announcing Plans to Nix CarPlay

 

[msackey]

I guess I don't really understand why car manufacturers are interested in mucking around this part of the car experience rather than leaving it to more experienced companies to do it. Maybe they see this as encroaching on their domain?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I don't think GM knows exactly what they are doing. GM made the biggest mistake by phasing out Apple CarPlay on new vehicles.

 

[CasinoOwl]

Sadly, I have seen people go down the road of just buying into new subscription services and micro-payments for things that used to be free. Younger people are used to it and it gets worse and worse. I'm old and I will resist it. I hope others do too.

The motivation behind what GM is doing is money. Time will tell, but I doubt they will add anything better to the user exerience.

 

[mystery hill]

former Apple executive responsible for the company's cloud services division

Responsible for iCloud? GM are screwed.

 

[Silencio]

Good luck with that, GM.

They want to do their own software so they can capture all the driving metrics for themselves.

 

[moabal]

Mike, blink twice if GM is holding you hostage.

 

[ShivneelSingh]

How about leaving Apple CarPlay as an option? With my 2020 Mercedes, I can choose to use the regular Mercedes interface or CarPlay. It’s like the best thing ever.

Why can’t GM adopt that? It’s probably a cost associated with it and they probably don’t want to pay some licensing fee or something in that area.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Mike, blink twice if GM is holding you hostage.

I don't think he's allowed to blink even once.

 

[ZMacintosh]

every market / industry is becoming overly saturated. tech/computer companies are going beyond hardware/software and into health, automotive, etc. car companies are getting into software/hardware and other industries as well...sometimes it makes sense but there is no standards or consistency and it makes it annoying and overwhelming as a consumer.

I think they can still offer default/industry standards of CarPlay and Android Auto while offering their own. this isn't something like phasing out 8trax, cassette, or CD players. hell I've had a car that has a CD player, CarPlay, Aux and USB ports. this is a money grab, which they're going to spend alot on and potentially fail and pass it on to the consumer.

 

[Mousse]

In March, GM announced plans to phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its vehicles starting this year, shifting to a built-in infotainment system co-developed with Google. The move is expected to help the automaker gather more data about how consumers drive, incentivize vehicle-related digital subscription services,

Spy on customers and...

and create recurring revenue opportunities.

Uh-huh. Sounds suspiciously like they want seat heater subscription, A/C subscriptions(?), power windows subscriptions(?).😒

Never gonna buy another GM vehicle.😤 There goes my dream of owning a new cherry red Stingray.😭

 

[sw1tcher]

General Motors (GM) has hired Mike Abbott, a former Apple executive responsible for the company's cloud services division, to lead a new software unit...

I predict a lot of service outages in GM's future 🤣

 

[cwkoller5]

I'm only buying cars that are CarPlay compatible. Why would I want to drive something that barely works with my iPhone?

 

[scubachap]

I too really like car play and for me it's a 'must have'. Cars are going to get simpler to make as they go electric and long standing car manufacturers are stuck between a rock and hard place though, as being able to engineer lot's of complicated small bits really well (for diesel engines etc) will become less and less relevant and the ability to create compelling software will become more and more important. Interesting times ahead...

 

[surfzen21]

Dumb move on GMs part but I'm guessing Mike Abbott threw out a ridiculous salary number and GM said yes.

TBH I want less tech in my cars and trucks and not more. Everything is becoming super annoying and expensive to fix.

 

[vipergts2207]

"Umm yeah, we should uhh, just use CarPlay..."

-Mike Abbott probably

 

[madsci954]

I guess I don't really understand why car manufacturers are interested in mucking around this part of the car experience rather than leaving it to more experienced companies to do it. Maybe they see this as encroaching on their domain?

Control and money

 

[phenste]

such…a horrible…decision. nobody even cares that Android Auto is being phased out. that makes it all the worse that Google is helping them with their new software. I guess they think bringing on a former Apple exec will help, but…? this guy had nothing to do with software design, he oversaw cloud infrastructure. it's a bust from the start.

Gruber had a great article on this mentioning that some ridiculous percentage of new car buyers seek CarPlay as a feature, and it makes sense, because the people that can afford new cars are the people who can also afford (particularly higher-end) iPhones. GM is popping themselves in the foot here.

 

[ignatius345]

The move is expected to help the automaker gather more data about how consumers drive, incentivize vehicle-related digital subscription services, and create recurring revenue opportunities.

This is a pretty succinct summary of exactly why I would very much prefer to use CarPlay or even just my iPhone.

If I was in a GM vehicle with no CarPlay, my next plan of attack would be to hook my Apple iPhone up via Bluetooth, as I do now. I'd do that long before I'd pay for the privilege of having some ungodly Google/GM data harvester shadow me everywhere. Truly, the hardest of passes on that ****.

 

[PlayUltimate]

Yep. Make the user interface dependent on a OnStar subscription service and collect the money and data. Everyone recognizes that this is a money grab to increase profit margins. Among US manufacturers, GM is the only one big enough to try it.

 

[Marbles1]

Tbh as long as it has 'good enough' Apple Music' integration and there's some way for me to use google maps, I don't care.

On related point though, the UI/UX experience of in car-entertainment is shocking bad vs. what CarPlay provides. I remember the crazy and confusing setup that my BMW, various nested menus etc. Once car play was setup I thankfully never had to touch it again.

 

[wanha]

GM really thinks it can beat out Apple when it comes to the car infotainment system and the entire ecosystem around the phone, huh? I suppose time will tell, but that seems like a pretty terrible bet to make

 

[Think|Different]

I guess I don't really understand why car manufacturers are interested in mucking around this part of the car experience rather than leaving it to more experienced companies to do it. Maybe they see this as encroaching on their domain?

I hate this, won't get my next car without CarPlay support, etc, etc. – but, do you see the irony in your statement? Car Manufacturers are plenty versed in car experiences, come on, LOL.

 

[ersan191]

I don't get why car companies have any desire to also be software companies. It seems expensive, complicated, and consumer-unfriendly. Why we don't have ubiquitous 3rd party infotainment developed by Apple/Google/Microsoft is a mystery to me.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Pretty funny. The small percentage of apple enthusiasts on mac rumors are all up in arms about GM’s decision. Don’t buy a GM then. The other 50+ million GM drivers won’t even notice. GM will not cease to exist and it will still sell a boatload of vehicles.