Remember the good old days when radio head units were a one-size-fits-all affair, and dealers or aftermarket suppliers could quickly and easily upgrade your car’s stereo with a screwdriver and a bit of elbow grease? The gradual replacement of single and double-DIN head units for proprietary layouts, screens, and software was heralded as progress. But when car manufacturers decide they no longer want to include a feature, it leaves frustrated owners without an option.

That’s what happened when General Motors decided to drop Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for its Ultium EV platform. Naturally, customers were a little miffed, but one dealer came to the rescue, offering to install an aftermarket solution that allows screen mirroring.

Read: Why GM’s Software Boss Thinks Ultifi Can Beat Apple CarPlay

But now GM has stopped it, according to The Drive. The dealer claims GM instructed them to stop offering the kit. Additionally, the manufacturer of the kit pulled the product from its website, claiming it was no longer viable to keep selling it.

Mirroring Dreams

Back in 2023, General Motors made the controversial decision to drop Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support from its new-generation EVs. Instead, it would offer its own smartphone-compatible software solution: Ultifi.

At the time, GM defended the move, saying that it helped the company offer a more “deeply integrated experience that you can create with the vehicle” by building a system from the ground up. The future of autonomy, as well as other features such as battery preconditioning, were all listed as reasons why GM’s own tech was the way forward.

As is often the case, the aftermarket seemingly came to the rescue when White Automotive and Media Services (WAMS) developed a kit that allowed OEM-like integration of the two most popular screen mirroring apps.

The only catch was that the WAMS kit wasn’t something a hobbyist or casual user could install. Instead, it required a specialist touch. A single dealership, LaFontaine Chevrolet in Plymouth, Michigan, was tapped to offer the professional install.

The Unsurprising Block

As you can easily guess, GM wasn’t very pleased with the situation. The company launched an investigation into the kit, and a company spokesperson said: “Aftermarket services that introduce features not originally designed, thoroughly tested, and approved by GM may cause unintended issues for customers. These issues could affect critical safety features and may also void portions of the vehicle’s warranty.”

It all sounds like this was a specialist piece of kit that, at best, modified and, at worst, wholly bypassed GM’s proprietary software. And with the amount of data that cars can collect nowadays, there’s also a question mark over just how protected one’s personal info is after the installation of a third-party device. As we’ve reported many times, though, that’s also a big issue for automakers themselves and how they use owners’ data, so it’s kinda the kettle calling the pot black.

Are We At The Mercy Of Automakers?

With the WAMS system only offered by one dealership and the complexity of the kit precluding DIY installers, it can be assumed that with the only distribution channel shut down, WAMS couldn’t see a future in the product.

However, it’s another stark reminder that as cars become more tech-laden, we’re increasingly at the behest of the manufacturers who can decide to end support for key selling points at any time. Not to mention putting already installed features behind a paywall despite the hardware already being there. Sure, they might call them subscriptions, but milking their customers trying to cash in for a software update by any other name still smells fishy.

General Motors and Hyundai announced they were exploring a partnership focused on joint product development, manufacturing, and clean energy technologies last fall. The companies were coy on specifics, but reports emerged in January that Hyundai could supply GM with electric vans.

Fast forward to today and the pieces are starting to fall into place as Reuters is reporting that Hyundai could give GM two electric commercial vans. In return, GM could give Hyundai a pickup that would be based on the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.

More: Hyundai Could Supply GM With Electric Commercial Vehicles

This is interesting to note and it makes us wonder if the truck could serve as a replacement for the Santa Cruz. The company only sold 32,033 units in the United States last year and the model starts at $30,200 which is only $3,295 less than the Colorado.

Hyundai is also said to be keen on offering a version of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. However, GM “hasn’t put that option on the table” and this implies it could be a big ask.

One of the vans is said to be based on the Hyundai ST1 and it would reportedly be imported from South Korea. However, the automaker is reportedly considering North American production by 2028. This could occur at either an existing plant, a contract manufacturer, or at an all-new facility. The latter would ramp up slowly, but could have an annual production capacity of more than 100,000 units by 2032.

The report goes on to say GM is expected to eliminate the aging Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans soon, so the Hyundai-sourced EVs could serve as their replacements. However, the threat of tariffs looms large.

Aside from vehicles for the United States, the companies are reportedly discussing the possibility of Hyundai providing GM with compact crossovers for Brazil. Unsurprisingly, it’s expected to be based on the Creta, which is built in the country.

Hyundai is also said to be considering deals that extend far beyond vehicles and include joint purchasing and development of everything from batteries to computer chips.

EV sales are on the up across several key markets, with China leading the charge with a 76 jump in February 2025, followed by Europe with a 29 percent rise. Even with a potential shift in US policy under the leadership of President Donald Trump, North America too has recorded significant growth – 20 percent up year-to-date.

While the rate of adoption may not have quite hit the lofty targets some manufacturers had, Cadillac is ready for a drastic shift towards electric cars. By the end of 2025, Cadillac will offer at least five EVs, including the Lyriq, the Escalade IQ and IQL, and the Optiq crossover. Soon, the three-row Vistiq will join the party, along with the ultra-luxury $300,000+ Celestiq.

Read: 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL Is Long, Really Long

The new models are the backbone of Cadillac’s predictions that EVs will account for 30–35 percent of U.S. sales in 2025, a significant jump from the 18 percent they represented last year. “The momentum is really there,” said Brad Franz, Cadillac’s director of marketing, in an interview with CNBC. “We’re going to ride that momentum and we’re not launching the vehicles to redistribute the business among [internal combustion engines] and EV portfolio. It’s to grow the business.”

Scaling Back The EV Dream

Of course, Cadillac’s latest strategy is vastly different from what it had proposed a few years ago. Despite EV sales growing year by year, the rate by which they increase hasn’t quite met expectations. In response, Cadillac has walked back its initial plans to become an all-electric car manufacturer by 2030.

The party line is that the brand will let consumer demand dictate when combustion cars disappear from its lineup. Reading between the lines, parent company General Motors is also looking to hedge its bets with a new administration that campaigned heavily against federal support for EVs.

Crucially though, it isn’t stopping Cadillac from offering a full range of EVs. Its overall US sales grew by 8.8% in 2024, with Lyriq sales more than tripling since its late 2022 debut, so it seems there’s potential there. As the brand balances EV expansion with continued gas-powered offerings, its commitment remains clear: providing customers with choice in the evolving luxury vehicle landscape.