Photo: Chevrolet
While General Motors is making wireless Android Auto and CarPlay standard on several 2021 models, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get the same upgrade on 2020 cars.
White Automotive and Media Services, or WAMS, is making the whole thing possible thanks to its own custom upgrade that allows you to enable wireless Android Auto and CarPlay on the 2020 Silverado, Sierra, Camaro, and Blazer.
Announced not a long time ago, the upgrade package comes in a plug and play form and is compatible with IOS and IOT infotainment systems found on the said cars. In a post on the official website, WAMS explains it’s already looking into bringing the same upgrade to 2019 models, though for now, nothing can be disclosed in this regard.
“We are taking an abundance of caution with these given the large changes between 2019 and 2020 including software changes as well as a WiFi antenna that is completely missing on the 2019 but present on 2020+ that these radios may use for the features we are adding. These antennas are generally in pretty hard to reach areas in the dash so retrofitting them may not be simple; we will be testing 2019 model years shortly!” WAMS said.
The upgrade costs $649 on the Blazer and $749 on the Silverado, Sierra, and Camaro, and everything is completely plug and play, though you’d have to install it yourselves in the compartment under the glove box.
No change is required on your side unless you have an active XM account, in which case you need to have the service transferred to the new radio ID. This is possible with a simple phone call, so in theory, it doesn’t take more than a few minutes to complete the switch from the old unit to the new one.
Worth emphasizing, however, is that IOR radios aren’t supported, and the company recommends everybody to double-check before ordering the upgrade.
“You will need to have the IOS (Mid Level) Radio without navigation (With an SD Card Slot) or the IOT (Up Level) Navigation Radio currently for this system to work. It will NOT work on IOR equipped vehicles. If you are confused as to which version your vehicle has you can check the QR code on your build label to see which radio you have or contact us with your VIN for more information,” WAMS says.
Full information is available on their website in the shop category under each model section.
Announced not a long time ago, the upgrade package comes in a plug and play form and is compatible with IOS and IOT infotainment systems found on the said cars. In a post on the official website, WAMS explains it’s already looking into bringing the same upgrade to 2019 models, though for now, nothing can be disclosed in this regard.
“We are taking an abundance of caution with these given the large changes between 2019 and 2020 including software changes as well as a WiFi antenna that is completely missing on the 2019 but present on 2020+ that these radios may use for the features we are adding. These antennas are generally in pretty hard to reach areas in the dash so retrofitting them may not be simple; we will be testing 2019 model years shortly!” WAMS said.
The upgrade costs $649 on the Blazer and $749 on the Silverado, Sierra, and Camaro, and everything is completely plug and play, though you’d have to install it yourselves in the compartment under the glove box.
No change is required on your side unless you have an active XM account, in which case you need to have the service transferred to the new radio ID. This is possible with a simple phone call, so in theory, it doesn’t take more than a few minutes to complete the switch from the old unit to the new one.
Worth emphasizing, however, is that IOR radios aren’t supported, and the company recommends everybody to double-check before ordering the upgrade.
“You will need to have the IOS (Mid Level) Radio without navigation (With an SD Card Slot) or the IOT (Up Level) Navigation Radio currently for this system to work. It will NOT work on IOR equipped vehicles. If you are confused as to which version your vehicle has you can check the QR code on your build label to see which radio you have or contact us with your VIN for more information,” WAMS says.
Full information is available on their website in the shop category under each model section.
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