GM axing CarPlay is part of a larger automaker battle over control and revenue

Most new cars sold in the U.S. — more than 98%— support CarPlay.

As of December, iPhones accounted for 57% of the smartphone market in the U.S., according to Counterpoint, a technology research firm.

Retention rates for Apple users are "well north of 90 percent," said Angelo Zino, VP of CFRA Research, an investment research firm. In other words, Apple users are usually Apple users for life.

"They have the most loyal consumers on the planet," said Zino. "The decision to walk away from an Apple brand, especially in the U.S. market, is just not a smart move in my view."

GM is undaunted.

"We understand there is high familiarity with phone projection systems, but we are confident that as our EV customers become more familiar with this purpose-built, integrated system, they will find it easy to use and recognize its many capabilities and benefits," said GM's Yu.

GM is designing its new interface using Android Automotive, Google's open-source software development kit. It is a different product from Android Auto, Google's automotive phone mirroring software. Other vehicles using Android Automotive include the Polestar 2, Volvo's XC40 Recharge P8 and Renault's Megane E-Tech.

About half of the light vehicles sold in the U.S. this year are projected to contain an infotainment center running on Android Automotive, according to SBD Automotive, a research and consulting firm.

For now, some automakers say they will retain support for CarPlay while improving the native infotainment center.

Honda customers "find value in our support" of CarPlay and Android Auto, and the automaker "will continue to offer a range of high-quality, interactive solutions to provide value to our customers that match their own technology choices," spokesperson Chris Abbruzzese told Automotive News.

Polestar plans to continue supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto "for the foreseeable future," said JP Canton, a spokesperson.