Cars add all this software and soft-button shit and then angle to lock it all behind subscriptions anyway.
What's the point when you can just use a phone anyway? Just rip it all out, save a packet on software development and partner with Brodit to add a nice stock phone holder for an extra 5 euros in wholesale BOM costs.
Well presumably they do it to make money. And they definitely arent going to get rid of the screen. Used for backup camera and other stuff. Backup cameras are required by law in the US on new cars.
Due to safety and emissions regulations we just cant have a dead simple car even as a niche option.
They could charge for the screen and give the option to use a connected phone as screen instead. To use that phone you'd have to install the car manufacturer's app which could leech data from the user whether it was anywhere near the car or not.
Another alternative would be to use the dashboard screen - where the speedometer etc. used to be - to show the backup camera image, the speedometer isn't really needed when backing up anyway.
> Backup cameras are required by law in the US on new cars.
This didn't used to be true and I'm not sure if it is now but it is required in California, which is why they are ubiquitous. Fun fact.
I like the approach Slate has taken - basically, bring your own device, then connect to the vehicle with our app. I'm not super confident that Slate will last as a company, and leaving subscription money on the table might be one reason they don't last. But I like this approach and I wish more companies would do it.
https://www.slate.auto/
It's not in production but I read that Slate, the modular EV startup, is explicitly not putting any screens and letting out your own device on the console. Seems like the obvious way to do it.
I recently purchased a used car, but one of the criteria was to not have all of this subscription/telemetry nonsense. The in dash head unit is new enough to have bluetooth connectivity, but no navigation or anything. It wanted to sync my contacts, but at least gave me the option of not doing that. I'm assuming it was to be used for displaying the caller's name instead of just the number on the display, but anytime someone asks to sync contacts it is a hard no on principle. As you said, just use the phone. Being in the holder I can see it before the in-dash display anyways.