GM's New UI For Trucks Plays Nice With CarPlayInsideEVs[email protected] (Kevin Williams)Tue, September 15, 2026 at 8:19 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleGM UI UpdateDarker blacks, higher contrast, and a streamlined interface should make this infotainment system even better to use.An updated version of General Motors's infotainment system will debut on the ICE-powered 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.The update brings higher-contrast colors, a streamlined system, and a new Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.This system will make its way across the lineup, GM says.General Motors is overhauling the user interface in its new trucks to be more intuitive and easier to understand, the automaker announced on Tuesday. The new digital experience also involves a big upgrade to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that will place those phone-mirroring systems right alongside native apps.The whole interface, which debuts on 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, looks different this time around. By default, it features a split-view layout so you can see multiple apps at once. The blue background and light-colored icons found on the current iteration of GM's interface are swapped out for a jet-black background with higher-contrast icons. I think this was a very much needed change; the Equinox EV's icons all look similar and, in my experience, were hard to differentiate while on the move.gmc-ics-launcher-viewPhoto by: General MotorsAdvertisementAdvertisementGM said it focused on making the UI simpler and cutting down the number of taps needed to access basic functions. All around, it gives off more of a clean, Tesla-like vibe, much like Hyundai's new Pleos system does."What we heard was that people were hunting for controls, navigating through too many steps, and encountering interaction models that felt inconsistent," said Sebastian Bauer, GM's executive director of human interface, in a blog post. "We focused on fewer taps; clearer visual, auditory and haptic feedback; more consistent interaction patterns; and better alignment between controls and outcomes."-androidauto-splithomeviewscreen-projections-vehiclestatusPhoto by: General MotorsThe quick access menu for some vehicle functions is now customizable, allowing the driver to reorganize the options in order of what they use most. Some functions that are available in the quick menu, like the headlights, still have physical tactile buttons. The gauge cluster screen has been revised too.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhat may be most interesting, though, is the new way GM chose to integrate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Famously, the company dropped phone mirroring from its EVs and later said that decision would extend to gas vehicles over time.Here, though, CarPlay and Android Auto are more integrated into the UI, not less. In the new interface, phone projection is house in its own window on the righthand side of the screen, alongside GM's native apps. It means you can interact with CarPlay and other vehicle functions side by side, rather than having phone projection assume the entire display when it's running.GM's new user interface puts CarPlay in its own separate window on the screen.GM's new user interface puts CarPlay in its own separate window on the screen.Photo by: General Motors"People really like CarPlay and Android Auto because they're so user-centric. We heard from customers that they want that same simplicity while still having quick access to everything their vehicle can do," said GM Executive Director of Software Product Management Michael Wahlstrom, in a blog post. "As we evolve our UI systems, we want customers to feel like they're interacting with a single experience rather than moving from room to room inside a house."AdvertisementAdvertisementGM says the new system will expand across its lineup over time. It's not clear if this phone-projection setup will come to electrified cars, and we've reached out to GM for more on that. Given how negative the feedback online about removing CarPlay has been, I wouldn't be surprised if it quietly shows up in the near future. If you're not all that keen on phone mirroring, you can still download and install streaming audio, video, and navigation apps that will run on the vehicle.I'm intrigued to see just how different this updated software is compared to what I've experienced in cars like the Chevrolet Silverado EV or Equinox EV. As soon as we get to test it, we'll let you know.Related ArticlesApple CarPlay Is Getting Video PlaybackThis $199 Gadget Brings Apple CarPlay To GM EVs. But There's A CatchRivian Says Fight Over Apple CarPlay Is 'Completely Obsolete' Thanks To AIGeneral Motors Dumped Apple CarPlay. Now It's Adding Apple Music—And Fixing A Big Problem