This Adapter Enables CarPlay and Android Auto in Chevy, GMC, Cadillac EVs for Just $199

GM EV owners, rejoice. CarPlay and Android Auto can now be enabled in your cars with only a $199 one-time device purchase and no subscriptions.

This sounds almost too good to be true, considering GM’s anti-CarPlay and Android Auto stance announced a few years ago. At that time, General Motors decided to switch to an Android Automotive-based infotainment system in its electric vehicles, blocking Android Auto and CarPlay.

Technically speaking, there was no hardware limitation in these cars to not allow Android Auto and CarPlay. AAOS has what it takes to run the two phone projection systems, but GM said that Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac EV owners benefitted from a significant upgrade with the addition of Google’s embedded system.

Restricting Android Auto and CarPlay was the most efficient way to enforce the new AAOS-based system, but several years later, buyers are still looking into ways to enable the two phone projection systems in their electric vehicles.

Enter EV Play LT.

This small adapter does a simple thing: it enables Android Auto and CarPlay “on most” Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac EVs. It does this with a simple approach. Buyers must connect the adapter to their vehicle using a USB port and install an application in their cars. The plug and play experience is fast and simple, and the parent company estimates that everybody should be ready to run Android Auto and CarPlay in just 2 minutes.

Buyers interested in more capabilities can get the EV Play Max, which runs Android and offers access to the Google Play Store for more apps. This upgraded model unlocks new features in GM EVs, including support for watching Netflix and playing games. It costs more, but people looking for a mini PC on wheels might want to check it out.

Meanwhile, EV Play LT unlocks both wired and wireless Android Auto and CarPlay in all these GM electric vehicles. The $199 device doesn’t come with any subscriptions, and we all know how big this is, considering we live in a subscription-based world.

The only thing left at this point is to demonstrate its reliability. It’ll be interesting to see EV Play LT at work, with the parent company promising to begin shipping this week.

I’ve seen similar devices promising to unlock the full Android experience in other cars, and their main issue was overheating and long-term reliability. EV Play’s device could be different, although based on the photos shared on the official website, I don’t see any cooling vents or other ways to prevent overheating.

Otherwise, it’ll also be interesting to see if GM doesn’t agree with this device and decides to do something about it. CarPlay and Android Auto is back, folks, and this device could make GM’s strategy irelevant.