General Motors has begun rolling out Google Gemini to eligible Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles across the Middle East, replacing Google Assistant with a free over-the-air update that adds support for both English and Arabic. However, before drivers start testing voice commands, there's an eligibility catch to note.
GM's Middle East rollout only covers 2025 and newer models, a notably stricter cutoff than the 2022-and-newer eligibility GM has advertised in its US materials. Owners of 2022-2024 Tahoes, Escalades, or other GM vehicles, including imported units, shouldn't assume Gemini will reach their car locally just because American support pages suggest otherwise. Beyond the model year requirement, vehicles also need Google built-in, GM's native Android-based infotainment system, wireless Android Auto or CarPlay projection doesn't qualify since Gemini runs inside the car's own software rather than through a connected phone.
| Requirement | What You Need |
|---|---|
| Model Year | 2025 or newer (Middle East rollout) |
| Infotainment System | Google Built-in (not just Android Auto or Apple CarPlay) |
| Connectivity | Active OnStar connection with data plan |
| Account | Signed in to the Google Play Store in the vehicle |
| Opt-In | Accept the Gemini activation prompt when it appears |
OnStar connectivity is the non-negotiable piece here, since Gemini runs entirely in the cloud rather than offline, if an OnStar subscription lapses, the AI features become limited or unavailable. OnStar has operated in the UAE and wider GCC since 2021. The rollout itself happens gradually over several months through an infotainment notification, meaning there's no dealership visit required, though drivers may need to double-check their Google account's language and region settings if those have been changed previously.
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The core upgrade over Google Assistant is genuine conversational ability rather than rigid, single-purpose commands. Drivers can ask Gemini to summarize incoming messages, draft replies, translate texts before sending, or build a road-trip playlist paired with a podcast that fits the remaining drive time. Multi-step requests work as well, asking for the nearest fuel station, then adding a coffee stop, then requesting a nearby restaurant, all without restarting the conversation.
GM's Global Vice President of Product Management, Tim Twerdahl, tied the rollout's scale directly to the connected-vehicle infrastructure OnStar has built over three decades. Gemini Live, an additional layer of functionality, is expected in a future update, and GM notes that available features may vary by vehicle, location, and service plan.