Report: A Third of New-Car Buyers Wouldn't Consider a Purchase Without Smartphone Mirroring

by Chris Teague

Published: June 18th, 2024

report a third of new car buyers wouldn t consider a purchase without smartphone

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are two of the most widespread and popular tech features in new cars today, and buyers aren’t shy about speaking their minds on the tech. A recent McKinsey & Co. survey found that around a third of buyers would not purchase a car without the smartphone mirroring features.

The survey showed that 30 percent of global EV buyers and 35 percent of gas buyers said a lack of smartphone mirroring tech would be a disqualifier for a new vehicle. The picture is similar here in the U.S., where 25 percent and 38 percent said the same, respectively.

Some said they’d be willing to pay extra for the privilege, but the results highlight how difficult the situation could be for any automaker brave enough to remove the tech from new models. General Motors had to stop sales of the Blazer EV to fix software issues, but even without that hurdle, the automaker’s decision to remove Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from new EVs raised many eyebrows.

The two interfaces function similarly, mirroring their respective smartphones’ screens on vehicles’ in-dash infotainment systems. Some automakers, including Toyota, were slow to adopt the technology over user privacy concerns, but a significant number of new cars come with both. Apple has boosted CarPlay’s functionality in recent years, adding additional vehicle controls and more display screen capabilities, giving automakers pause as the tech giant wrests more control out of their hands.

[Images: Apple, Infiniti, Porsche]

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#AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto #SmartphoneMirroring #newcarshoppers

Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

More by Chris Teague

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5 of 25 comments

Rick on Jun 19, 2024

Old I.T. security weenie here.

Not only can I live without it, I recently bought
a 2024 Civic sport touring because the 2025 did away
with a couple of things I wanted.

First no manual transmission.

Second the Garmin map went away and Google apps will
come installed. Google apps are a big security hole.

Android auto and Apple Play just end up sending even more info
off to Apple or eventually Google.

I will spend extra for Sirius XM to avoid any google routed audio. or
Apple Itunes.

I never pair my phone to any car I own or rent and I leave location
services disabled.

2 Reply
- See 2 previous
- 28-Cars-Later on Jun 19, 2024
  
  Its a sad day when IT professionals are choosing cars based on their prior IT experience.
  
  Like
- Funky D on Jun 19, 2024
  
  It is the same reason why most IT professionals don't have Alexa, or Google whatever in their homes. I don't and won't.
  Just remember that in the IOT (Internet of Things), the 'S' stands for Security and the 'P' stands for Privacy.
  
  Like
- 28-Cars-Later on Jun 19, 2024
  
  "Just remember that in the IOT (Internet of Things)"
  "Things" don't need internet access, a line must be drawn somewhere.
  
  Like
- Matzel on Jun 20, 2024
  
  "I leave location services disabled."
  
  Comes in handy if you are wanted by the FBI, or the mafia is trying to find you.
  For the rest of us - so what? Google knows I had Dairy Queen yesterday. 🍦
  
  Like
- Rick on Jun 20, 2024
  
  Sure the immediate thought is “who cares.”
  A few years back while I was still in I.T., It was “Who cares if I bought a sandwich at Arby’s with a credit card?” So what.Except the Point of Sales system was hacked and tens of thousands of credit cards were hacked. Same thing at Target. BTW, point of sales is typically abbreviated as “POS”. I have an alternative definition.
  
  So, who cares if google knows where you’ve been, or what you listen to, or how you log in with what passwords, or what localized maps you download to navigate?
  
  Except it just went over the air and has established a pattern of where you at certain times of the day or whether you are on vacation and has logged it all at Google and possibly in your car’s data log. Where else did the data go? How many manufacturers sold your car's data log to insurance companies again? Where ELSE did it go?
  It really takes very little to be security conscience.
  No tin foil hats here, just a bit careful, that's all.
  
  Like
Doc423 on Jun 19, 2024

Said some automakers were slow to adopt the technology of Smartphone Mirroring, too bad they aren't slower adopting the EV technology, rather than cramming it down our throats.

1 Reply

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