Chevrolet will start offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its vehicle line. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) declared these systems in early 2014 and have got most automakers on board. Only cars having 7-inch MyLink Touch screens will support Android Auto and CarPlay. The 8-inch versions will support Apple CarPlay on 2016 vehicles. Android Auto is still being developed for the larger displays.
Drivers can alternate between the two operating systems based on the type of Smartphone connected to the dashboard. If neither an iPhone nor an Android-based Smartphone is available Chevrolet’s proprietary operating system termed MyLink can be used.
Beginning with the 2016 Chevy Cruze on June 24, purchasers can choose the MyLink infotainment system with a seven-inch LCD screen. Subsequently in the year Chevy will release a MyLink system with an 8-inch screen that will in the beginning just offer Apple CarPlay. The cars having the seven-inch option will be Silverado, Silverado HD, Chevy Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Camaro and Camaro Convertible. The 8-inch will be available for the Corvette, Corvette Convertible, Suburban, Tahoe, Colorado, and Volt. According to Chevrolet, these 14 models make up 51% of the company’s total worldwide sales.
With both systems, phone owners plug their devices into the car through USB to view services such as maps, messaging, and music on the in-car display. Android Auto needs phones with Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher while CarPlay needs an iPhone 5 or later.
Leveraging Android Auto CarPlay, cars will become smarter and more customized. The systems are on top of the auto maker’s proprietary infotainment systems but deliver an entirely different user interface when a compatible phone is connected.
Voice control is a major feature of both operating system via Apple’s Siri and Google Now. Using the infotainment screen or a button on the steering wheel, the driver can turn on the voice control and request for directions or other information.
