Unfortunately, many EV brands (Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, etc) and the biggest EV player from the legacy automakers (GM) all don't support CarPlay. They see you as a captive user that they can monetize through their UI instead of Apple/Google.

The Rivian is really testing my resolve to never buy another vehicle without CarPlay. If I don't buy one, that will probably the #1 reason.

Their ceo just did an interview on stratechery where he defends this choice. Something about their software being better and wanting to control the whole experience. Doesn’t mean much if you lose customers before they enter your showroom.

I don't think these CEOs get how actively user-hostile the "wanting to control the whole experience" is. We as users are saying we want to control of our devices, and they are saying "that isn't the experience we want you to have - even if it is the one you want."

I'd put Tesla and GM on pretty opposite sides of this. In the case of Tesla, they actually know how to build good UX and software (and integrate them deeply with the vehicle), so I've never missed CarPlay having owned and daily driven a Tesla since 2018. (I get to use CarPlay frequently in rental cars for work.)

Whereas with GM, I'd rather poke my eyes out than use their software (similar to Toyota's or BMW's).

Don't tell General Motors–the largest carmaker in the United States and a huge player in the global market. They are phasing out CarPlay in all their brands.

It’s not going to work for them. Car companies have already tried this, people will literally get a suction cup and stick their phone over the crappy car UI if needed.

Wireless CarPlay was relatively uncommon in 2021 when I bought my last new car. Have that many manufacturers added it in the subsequent 4 years?

If you have wired I just found out you can get a $30 wireless dongle for this these days. Available for both CarPlay and Android Auto. Meant to work pretty flawlessly although mine is the mail so I haven't tested it out yet.

The one I got worked, but there was some extra delay of a second or two, and it did not play well with the built-in Bluetooth. If it had been my car, no big deal, but it was my wife's, and she would not just have her phone forget the car's Bluetooth (although the internal implementation is one of those really annoying ones that autoplays the last music source every time you start the car).

I’ve seen those advertised but reviews seem very mixed. At least on the smaller ones that don’t attached with a cord.

Unfortunately, that is not true. Many manufacturers are very resistant to using Carplay.