Some GM Dealers Say Apple CarPlay Boosts Auto Sales

According to some GM dealers, Apple CarPlay is helping them to sell more vehicles.

It appears that the automaker’s push to implement the Apple feature across many of its models and faster than its competitors is paying off, with reports that the software helps dealers bring in customers and ultimately finalize 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,” said Chris Hemmersmeier, chief executive of Jerry Seiner dealerships in Salt Lake City, Utah. “It’s helping to close the deal once they see it.”

Twenty-seven GM vehicles had CarPlay integrated with their designs this fall, which is considerably more than other automakers. The software displays an iPhone screen on the dashboard, which provides the user with access to various iOS apps, including Apple Maps, Phone, Messages, Music and many others. Siri is also available, allowing the feature to support voice command functions.

Several other brands, including Honda and Volkswagen, installed Apple CarPlay on a couple of their models, but the numbers are far less than General Motors’ figures. The majority of automakers plan to implement the software in the near future, while some also plan to include Android Auto. Toyota may end up being the only manufacturer that won’t include either system, and plans instead to use its own in-house developed software.

“Navigation is going to cost $900 [to] $1,000 [as an option],” said Gavin McGrath, Pat McGrath Chevyland general manager. “Here you have Apple CarPlay, and boom, your nav is there. That has already helped us close deals.”

General Motors’ U.S. sales surged in October and November, due to a strong market and demand for sport-utility vehicles, although it’s hard to pinpoint a direct effect caused by the inclusion of CarPlay. At the same time, GM officials say that they have anecdotal evidence of an impact, and feel that the offering has been very well received by consumers. Phil Abram, executive director of connectivity and infotainment at GM, said that customers have been asking for the feature for years, with the automaker planning to expand it to many more models in the near future.

Considering these reports, it appears that the Apple brand can help to boost auto sales, although the specifics are still hard to quantify at this point.