EV Play LT adapter adds CarPlay, Android Auto to GM EVs

A new third-party device offers a workaround for owners of certain General Motors electric vehicles who want to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, features the automaker has deliberately excluded from its recent models. The $199 EV Play LT adapter provides both wired and wireless versions of the popular phone-mirroring systems for a range of 2024 through 2026 model year GM EVs.

The device is compatible with the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Blazer EV, and Silverado EV; the GMC Hummer EV and Sierra EV; and the Cadillac Escalade IQ and IQL, Optiq, and Vistiq. Setup involves downloading a companion app through the vehicle's built-in Google Play Store and plugging the small adapter into a USB port, a process the company says takes about two minutes and requires no vehicle modifications.

A more advanced version, the $425 EV Play Max, adds functionality for video streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube, an HDMI port for connecting gaming consoles, and the ability to download Android applications. The company also offers a version designed for Rivian vehicles.

This launch follows GM's controversial 2023 announcement that it would cease offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its new electric...