This week, General Motor's announced that it would eventually ax Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from its gas cars. 

To many drivers, the move looked like a stunning break from its customer base. 

'It's insane,' one driver said on Reddit. 

Both systems mirror a driver's phone on the dashboard, letting users access apps like Google Maps, Messages, and Spotify while keeping their hands on the wheel. 

They're extremely popular. A July study by AutoPacific found that more than 60 percent of shoppers wouldn't buy a car without either system. 

But GM's decision isn't simply a case of ignoring what customers want. 

It's part of a broader industry shift — one that's exposing a growing divide among automakers over how much control Silicon Valley should have inside their cars. 

American car companies are spending billions to build their own infotainment platforms, hoping to rival Big Tech's in-car dominance. 

Nearly every major brand — including Ford, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Polestar — is developing its own software ecosystem. 

That push comes as Apple rolls out ever-more ambitious versions of CarPlay, including its latest 'Ultra' update. 

The new system doesn't just project iPhone-style apps onto the center display; it creeps into the screen behind the steering wheel, and displaying critical safety information like the cars speed, tire pressure, and fuel gauge. 

Carmakers traditionally keep that data close to the vest. 

Apple is also experimenting with features like digital car keys, further blurring the line between phone and vehicle. 

For automakers, that's a red flag. Many worry that giving Apple deeper access to their hardware could mean ceding too much control. 

'We don't like the execution of Ultra in round one,' Jim Farley, Ford's CEO said during an interview on The Verge's Decoder podcast.

'I've talked to Tim Cook many times about this.'

A few other automakers — notably Tesla and Rivian — have fully skipped Apple and Google's software. 

GM is joining that camp, betting on its own in-house system instead.

The automaker already uses a Google-based infotainment suite in its EVs, replacing CarPlay and Android Auto with built-in Google Maps, Assistant, and voice controls.

Models like the Chevy Equinox EV, Cadillac Lyriq, and GMC Hummer EV already run on that software.

At a Wednesday press event attended by the Daily Mail, GM CEO Mary Barra said the company plans to launch a new, Google-free digital platform within the next few years. 

But even as automakers are building out their new tech, they're reassuring customers that beloved dashboard-centric versions of CarPlay are staying put in their vehicles. 

'We are not making any changes to existing vehicles,' a GM spokesperson told the Daily Mail. 'If your car supports Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, that will continue.' 

Ford added: 'We're focused on giving our customers what they want, not limiting their choices.'   

Apple and Google didn't immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.