- A new third-party device can give Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC electric vehicle owners Apple CarPlay access.
- The plug-and-play device seems easy to set up and costs $199.
- There’s also a more expensive version which allows video streaming and gaming.
General Motors’ decision to ditch Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—first for EVs and, later, for all its vehicles—has been controversial. Instead, the company has been nudging owners to use its built-in Android-based operating system, which, to be fair, is no slouch when it comes to navigation and media capabilities. But if you’re a CarPlay power user, a new third-party device will now instantly give you access to that.
Phone mirroring is a bit of a contentious battle in the automotive industry right now. Automakers are increasingly betting that deeply integrated built-in systems are the future, and they do have a point. But millions of drivers love using CarPlay and Android Auto. For them, there’s a new workaround.
The device is called the EV Play LT. At a one-time cost of $199, it adds wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac EVs. It’s roughly the size of a portable power bank, and the company claims setup takes about two minutes: download an app through the vehicle’s built-in Google Play Store, plug into a USB port, and you’re done.
Photo by: EV Play
For those who want to go further, there’s the EV Play Max at $425. Think of it as turning your infotainment screen into a do-it-all tablet. It supports streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube and includes an HDMI port so you can connect a Nintendo Switch or PlayStation console. Built-in Bluetooth lets you pair a game controller or gaming headphones. Setup is the same simple process as the LT.
Both devices are compatible with the following 2024, 2025, and 2026 model year vehicles:
- Chevy Equinox EV
- Chevy Blazer EV
- Chevy Silverado EV
- GMC Hummer EV
- GMC Sierra EV
- Cadillac Escalade IQ and IQL
- Cadillac Optiq
- Cadillac Vistiq
Here’s an important caveat, though. Another third-party solution in the past unlocked access to CarPlay and Android Auto, but GM reportedly instructed dealers to stop installing it. The makers of EV Play openly acknowledge on their website that GM disabling functionality is “an eventual possibility.”
“We would obviously keep up the good fight as long as we could, but ultimately they are in control of their system and customers should accept the fact that GM could eventually disable this,” EV Play says in its FAQ section for the device.
That’s a real risk worth weighing before dropping $199 or $425 on a fix for something GM has made clear it doesn’t consider a problem. There is, however, a 30-day return window with a full refund.
General Motors adds Google’s Gemini AI assistant to 4 million cars
Photo by: General Motors
The argument for native systems is strong. They can tap into vehicle hardware and software in ways CarPlay simply can’t. Think battery preconditioning, charging management, driver assistance features, and diagnostics, all woven into a single cohesive experience and also far more upgradable over time. Tesla and Rivian have built their brands around this approach, and a growing number of automakers are following suit.
Google, in particular, is emerging as an automotive OS powerhouse. At this year’s Google I/O, the company’s annual developer conference, it showed off how vehicles running native Google systems will gain access to cutting-edge capabilities like Immersive Navigation and deeper Gemini integration. CarPlay and Android Auto are improving too, but those gains are incremental by comparison.
So yes, EV Play is a clever solution, and some owners will find it genuinely useful. But remember that GM, at the end of the day, may get the final say on what runs on its vehicles.
Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com