Google has announced a slew of new features coming to Android Auto, the smartphone-powered experience that takes over the infotainment system in your car — bringing apps, calls, text messages, music streaming, turn-by-turn directions, and more to the built-in screens. With more than 250 million Android Auto-compatible vehicles on the road, the next-generation update from Google promises to impact a vast number of road users.
Android Auto is a direct competitor to CarPlay, which replaces the infotainment system that shipped with your vehicle with an Apple-designed interface complete with a slew of content from the apps installed on your iPhone.
Google has teased the shake-up to Android Auto alongside its next-generation operating system for smartphones, Android 17. You'll need to be running the latest version of Android on your handset to experience upgraded Android Auto, since everything is powered by the chipset inside your smartphone.
Google is bringing the same Material 3 Expressive design, widely available on Android smartphones and tablets, to Android Auto for the first time, adding new levels of customisation
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First up, Google has redesigned Android Auto so that it better fits dashboard displays.
The US company says its new look should eliminate unsightly dead space, with the promise of an edge-to-edge Google Maps experience, no matter whether the screen inside your car is "an ultrawide rectangle, a circle, or a unique shape," Guemmy Kim, Android for Cars, Senior Director of Product and User Experience, confirmed in a blog post.
Google has reworked its Google Maps experience, showcasing a lifelike 3D view to reflect the buildings, overpasses, and terrain around you
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Of course, that border-less Google Maps experience will be the new-and-improved visuals, dubbed Immersive Navigation, that bring a lifelike 3D view to reflect the buildings, overpasses, and terrain around you. Unveiled earlier this year, it also adds Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of what Google is calling its "biggest update in a decade".
Android Auto is also promising smoother animations, new fonts, and customisable wallpapers to match the background on your smartphone. This should bring much of the customisation that you're accustomed to on your smartphone to the inside of your vehicle.
And just like the phone in your pocket, Google is bringing more customisation via widgets, which let you quickly glance at information from inside your favourite apps, even while navigating. For the first time, you'll be able to add a shortcut to your favourite contacts, a one-tap button to open the garage door, weather conditions, and much more.
Gemini Intelligence will proactively suggest the information that you need, like the address someone requests in a text message, to send with a single tap
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With expansive, high-definition displays fast becoming the standard in modern vehicles, Google is taking the opportunity to add entertainment experiences to Android Auto, so you can catch up with an episode of your latest boxset binge or a blockbuster movie when parked, travelling on the chunnel, or charging your electric vehicle (EV).
Google executive Guemmy Kim confirmed the update in a blog post: "For the first time in Android Auto, you’ll be able to sit back, relax and watch videos on apps like YouTube. Look for it in crisp 60fps full HD in supported cars later this year, starting with BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata and Volvo."
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When it's time to put the car back into gear and pull away, Android Auto won't abruptly stop what you're watching. Instead, video content that has taken over the screen inside your vehicle will transition to audio-only in apps that support background audio — perfect for when you want to continue listening to a video podcast or YouTube video you were watching while you were stationary.
Like the homescreen on your smartphone or tablet, Android Auto now offers widgets for quick, glanceable information from inside the apps
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Whether it's a video podcast or your favourite album, Android Auto is bringing support for Dolby Atmos in supported apps and cars, including vehicles from BMW, Genesis, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata, and Volvo.
Just like the tune-up for Google Maps announced earlier this year, expect a swathe of Artificial Intelligence (AI) features courtesy of Gemini coming to Android Auto, provided that your smartphone or tablet supports the next-generation assistant.
Just like on your phone, Gemini understands context based on the contents of your messages, emails, webpages, or anything else on-screen, so you can ask questions about what you're seeing.
This means the AI assistant can anticipate your needs, rather than waiting to be summoned. For example, if you get a text from a friend asking for an address, the operating system will understand the context of the question, find the answer using information from your text messages, email or calendar, and offer to send a reply with the right information, all in a single tap.
Dubbed Magic Cue, this feature made its debut as a contextual AI tool on the Pixel 10 smartphone series. But now, it'll be coming to Android Auto to summon information and quickly respond to requests with a tap on the screen.
You’ll also be able to order a takeaway while you’re behind the wheel, starting with US Deliveroo equivalent, Doordash. Just ask Gemini: "Order my usual fish tacos on DoorDash for pickup, but double the order."
After you confirm your order with a tap, your dinner will be prepped while you're driving and ready when you arrive.
All of these features will be rolling out as part of Android Auto 17.0, which is currently being trialled by beta testers. Once the final update is ready, it'll roll-out as part of an update to your smartphone.