- A bunch of General Motors’ EVs, and even gas cars, are getting access to streaming video via the car’s infotainment system.
- It only works when parked, but it’ll let you watch movies and even play games during a charging stop.
- Chevy says it’ll offer apps like Amazon Prime Video, Max, Google Chrome and Angry Birds.
Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac are bringing streaming video services to their EVs’ in-car displays, a spokesperson for General Motors confirmed to InsideEVs.
That means you’ll be able to stream video from providers like Amazon Prime Video, Tubi and Max during a charging stop. Once the feature becomes available, you’ll be add services via the “Pass Time While Parked” section of the Google Play Store. You’ll even be able to play games like Angry Birds or browse the web using Google Chrome.
We already knew that was coming to cars like the Cadillac Optiq, Chevy Tahoe and Chevy Suburban, but at the launch of the Blazer EV SS (review coming soon), Chevy said the feature would roll out to existing EVs as well. That’s good news if you’re an Equinox EV, Blazer EV or GMC Sierra EV owner, though the spokesperson would not confirm specific models it was planned for.
But the rollout should be pretty widespread, as all of the Ultium cars (or whatever you want to call them now that “Ultium” branding is dead) are pretty similar on the software front.
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Source: Tim Levin/InsideEVs
The Chevy Bolt is quite different, though, and since it doesn’t have a Google Built-In infotainment system with access to the Google Play Store, don’t get your hopes up there. You’ll have to wait for the new Bolt to launch later this year.
Unsurprisingly, Chevy confirmed that the streaming video options would only work when the vehicle is parked. They’re clearly meant for charging stops, and I think they’ll be a welcome addition. My personal Blazer EV isn’t the fastest charging car in the world, and on my 1,200-mile road trip, I definitely spent a lot of time reading on my phone to pass the time. In fact, I wanted this capability so bad I side-loaded a full Firefox browser onto my car. Obviously, I don’t recommend giving unverified apps access to your car’s infotainment system, I just wanted to see if it works.
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Source: InsideEVs
But soon you won’t need a workaround. Chevy says it’s planning to issue a larger entertainment update at the end of the month, which I assume will bring this capability to other cars. This follows a broad trend in the industry toward more in-car entertainment.
Tesla and Mercedes both offer games and streaming services on their infotainment system, and the latter even gives you access to TikTok. Rivian, too, lets you stream YouTube and other services.
Given that GM wants to be seen as a big hitter in the automotive software space, it only follows that the company would bring these features to the whole lineup. And while I still don’t love sitting around for 40 minutes on a trip, I’ll admit that I’d enjoy it more if I could watch Veep while I wait.
Contact the author: Mack.Hogan@insideevs.com.
