General Motors is bringing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto back into its trucks, and this time the company is building the interface to keep both phone mirroring systems and its own software on screen at once. The new setup will debut on the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2027 GMC Sierra 1500 before rolling out to the rest of GM’s lineup.
According to Bloomberg, GM told the outlet it worked directly with Apple and Google to design the new layout, which places CarPlay or Android Auto inside a large window next to GM’s native truck functions instead of letting either app take over the whole display.
The New Layout Splits The Screen Instead Of Handing It Over
Tapping the phone icon opens Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in a large pane, and the home button brings back the native GM layout. Trailering data, tire pressure, fuel information, and Super Cruise controls stay visible on the rest of the screen the entire time.
GM has plenty of screen real estate to work with. The 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2027 GMC Sierra 1500 pack up to 60 inches of combined display space across three screens, including a 16.3-inch central touchscreen.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vehicles | 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2027 GMC Sierra 1500 |
| Phone mirroring | Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, split-screen view |
| Total display space | Up to 60 inches across three screens |
| Main touchscreen | 16.3 inches |
| Visual style | High-contrast, white text on black background |
| New graphic feature | 3D visualization of surrounding traffic with Super Cruise |
| Launch window | Later this year |
GM Walked Away From This Once Already
GM said in 2023 it would phase Apple CarPlay and Android Auto out of its electric vehicles in favor of its own software. CEO Mary Barra later said the plan would extend to gas-powered vehicles too, not just EVs. Gas trucks kept phone mirroring in the meantime, and that decision now looks like the right one.
A GM spokesperson told Bloomberg the company sees this as evolution rather than reversal, framing it as building on what already worked in its gas-powered lineup. “We were one of the first automakers to bring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into our gas-powered vehicles,” a GM spokesperson said.
The Rest Of The Portfolio Isn’t Confirmed Yet
GM says the new interface is built on a “scalable foundation” that can extend across electric, gas, and diesel powered vehicles. That description confirms the software can support a wider rollout. GM has not confirmed that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are returning to every model in its lineup.
GM has not said whether Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are coming back to its electric vehicles specifically. Its current EV infotainment system still supports select apps, including Apple Music, without full phone mirroring.
Our Take
I think this is GM reading the room after three years of customer pushback, and the split-screen approach is the smarter fix compared to an all-or-nothing choice between CarPlay and GM’s own tools. Burying Super Cruise and trailering data behind a full-screen CarPlay takeover was always going to frustrate truck buyers who use those features daily. My guess is EVs get this treatment too once GM sees how well it lands on the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2027 GMC Sierra 1500, later this year.
