[RahulNagaraj]

General Motors has partnered with tech giant Google to offer in-built Google software on the infotainment systems in some of its cars, like the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban SUVs.

However, a global media outlet conducting a long-term vehicle test of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 found out that owners of GM cars will need to pay a subscription fee to use some of Google's in-built software. This includes basic features like the Google App Store, voice recognition and, most importantly, Google Maps.



The media outlet claimed that to use the vehicle's native navigation feature (Google Maps), owners will need to have an active OnStar plan. The OnStar plan starts with the Connected Vehicle Plan, which costs $24.99 per month, while their all-inclusive Premium plan comes at $49.99 per month.

Current GM cars continue to feature Android Auto & Apple CarPlay. However, the carmaker did announce last year that they would phase out the feature, replacing it with GM's own in-house developed connectivity platform.

Source: MotorTrend

Link to Team-BHP news

[killferd]

Talk about shooting themselves in the foot. This is nothing but extortion. A feature which is free and requires nothing but simple compatible hardware on their part and no periodic maintenance, but they choose to force it out and charge customers for it.

[Earthroamer]

This is just a start. As more and more features are going to get integrated in the electronic centre console of the vehicle, manufacturers can turn these features into subscription based services, using their in house dedicated software and its subsequent updates.

It's high time, for us consumers, to demand more analogue and physical mechanisms in our vehicles, instead of running behind these software gimmicks while paying premium.

[quad_exhaust]

I remember just a few years back I was discussing with my friends about how car manufacturers are going to ask for a premium to let you access certain features of the car. Sadly, as it turns out, it wasn't a joke at all. Nowadays, I hear people joking about how in the future you'd have to see 3 unskippable ads being projected on the windshield before you can start the car. Hope it doesn't become a reality.

[s2K_scorpioN]

This is insane. What were to happen if Google started charging users for map services? I'll tell you what - another reason to whip out the real maps, get lost on the road, drop a window and ask a local (instead of an AI).

I remember when I went Dehradun, I caught up with one of the local shop owners which actually lead me to going to the Surkanda Devi Temple. Now, I had no idea about this place when I reached Dehradun, and it doesn't have the visibility it deserves online. But I'm glad I asked around, because the temple visit was spectacular. Only when we came back from the temple did we realise it was a Sakthi Peeth(am).

Subscription fees my foot. We're forgetting how we used to live, we've been doing everything analogously in past - just without the digital interference. We just need to keep that in mind.

[GTO]

They won't be able to get away with it. $25 / month is a LOT of money, especially when the alternative is free in all other cars, as well as GM cars itself. Solution? Connect your smartphone via Bluetooth and have the instructions spoken out to you.

Not to forget, their DUMB move of dropping Android Auto & Apple CarPlay from future cars. They will repent this, and they will backtrack on this stupid decision. GM seems to forget the ire BMW faced when it tried to charge a monthly fee for Apple CarPlay.

[ashkamath]

Originally Posted by s2K_scorpioN

This is insane. What were to happen if Google started charging users for map services? I'll tell you what - another reason to whip out the real maps, get lost on the road, drop a window and ask a local (instead of an AI).

I agree with you. Being old-school I have always enjoyed whipping out my road atlas, when I am at cross roads while driving/riding. I have done it many times, sometimes in the middle of the night, on strange roads. Ofcourse those days Google maps were still not available and real maps were the only one, you turn into.

Going forward, I always pack my road atlas while traveling and I find it extremely comforting and reassuring to open the map and chart the route. It's like a favourite pastime. I would check various options, calculate the distance and chart the diversions and all that stuff. Then take a print out and keep it in my bike tankbag for easy reference. And over that, asking the locals is a sure shot way to get better directions, short cuts, advices and guidance. I do that a lot of times.

I have been ridiculed in this forum when I had earlier expressed my preference to road atlas over Google maps with well meaning advice that times have changed, roads have increased/ changed with all the new infrastructure coming up and it's easy & convenient to use Gmap. I agree to all the advantages and convenience that comes with the digital map. You can do a lot of things in a jiffy.

But then, it's like reading an e-book on Kindle (where you enhance your reading experience through a myriad of features) against reading a hard copy of the book. I rather like the hard copy of the book, turn the page over physically, feel the paper and the smell. It feels more real and pleasant to the mind. Kindle is great, convenient and awesome! but somewhere lacks the soul of the real book. It's understandable. Kindle was created to replace the hard book and have a thousand books in digital form in that tiny pad. But a hard cover is a hard cover.

Same with the maps. Gmap is convenient, awesome and available at the flick of the hand. The older road atlas doesn't have the information and the aweness of the digital map. People say "Oh. the road atlas is ancient. It's not showing Telangana as a state. This is archaic".

Well, it's true. The older road atlas aren't as sophisticated or good as the digital maps. But I am not in a hurry. The hard copy and the locals enroute make my journey more fulfilling and planted to the ground. And there's no AI there in hard cover atlas and local guides. Only good old book and humans.

I have my trusty "Lonely planet road atlas for India and Bangladesh" This atlas was not available on Amazon for some time, then it was priced ridiculously high and now I see that price has come down for paper back version..

[parambyte]

Ridiculous. There are many map making companies, from MapMyIndia in India to Garmin in the USAwho sell navigation devices with lifetime free map updates, even with people who don’t want to use Google Maps on their phones.

In the USA, Apple Maps has got significant traction and it’s free. So is Waze based on OpenStreetMap.

What next? Subscription to use the sixth gear?

[subie_socal]

Originally Posted by parambyte

. So is Waze based on OpenStreetMap.

Waze relies on Google Maps data. It is owned by Google.

[parambyte]

No it seems it doesn’t use Google data. Waze was purchased by Google (not sure, but in 2013?) and apparently Waze data is copyrighted and can’t be used elsewhere (of course they may have a;arrangement with Google).

And I stand corrected, it doesn’t use OSM.

What map data does Waze use?

[frewper]

GM and all other car companies are puzzled by the fact that software can be sold on subscription model and now want to make money on the same.

Stupid !!!

They want to us to pay for the car and charge subscription fees as well.

GM needs to make better cars first. As far as I can see, they are just playing catch up.