According to independent General Motors dealers, Apple CarPlay is helping them sell more vehicles.
The carmaker's push to implement the Apple feature across many of its models and faster than any of its competitor is apparently paying off, as the software reportedly helps dealers draw in customers and close deals.
"We've had people coming in because they've heard about it, and once they see it, they really do like it because it mirrors the look and feel of the devices they use. It's helping to close the deal once they see it," Chris Hemmersmeier, Jerry Seiner Dealerships chief executive of a chain, says.
This fall, 27 General Motors vehicles had CarPlay integrated with their designs, which is a lot more compared with other carmakers. The software displays an iPhone screen on the dashboard, providing the user access to various iOS apps, including Apple Maps, Phone, Messages, Music and many others. On top of those, Siri is available too, and that means the feature supports voice command functions.
Other brands such as Honda and Volkswagen also installed CarPlay on a couple of their models as well, but the numbers fall short in contrast with General Motors' figures. Most carmakers intend to implement the software in the foreseeable future, though, where some also plan to use Alphabet's Android Auto. On that note, Toyota could be the only manufacturer that'll pass up on either software, insisting on using its own in-house developed app.
"[N]avigation is going to cost $900 [to] $1,000 [as an option]. Here you have Apple CarPlay, and boom your nav is there. That has already helped us close deals," Gavin McGrath, Pat McGrath Chevyland general manager, says.
In October and November, General Motors had increased sales in the U.S. market, but it wasn't directly attributed to the Apple CarPlay.
Both Hemmersmeier and McGrath believe that the software will have an impact on the sales of vehicles with built-in navigation systems.
Considering the recent reports, it seems that the Apple brand can really boost sales, but by how much is yet to be determined. At any rate, Apple CarPlay and other similar software might become a mainstay for most vehicles someday because of the range of services and apps they bring to the table.
