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Android Auto vs. Android Automotive vs. Google Automotive Services (GAS)
Google's car-friendly services can be confusing. Let's break them down
When we use our phones while driving, there's a chance something horrible will happen to us or the family in the minivan on the other side of the road. We need directions and want to listen to a different song. The world might end if we don't respond to that text message that just came in. Still, we must stay focused on the road in front of us.
Google Maps wants to keep you from missing a charging station and getting stranded
While Android Automotive has more options for parked entertainment than ever
It's CES week, and while that likely doesn't mean much for new smartphone hardware, that doesn't mean Google doesn't have some surprises up its sleeve. In addition to some big changes to Nearby Share and a whole slew of improvements to the company's TV lineup, Google is announcing new features for both Android Auto and cars built on Android Automotive with Google services. Whether you're looking at a new EV or just trying to keep your kids entertained while on the go, there's plenty to look forward to.
GM believes removing Android Auto and CarPlay support makes its cars safer
The push for a custom solution may open up more monetization opportunities through subscriptions
Android Auto is a convenient feature which brings your phone’s critical functions like navigation, calling, messaging, and media control right to your vehicle’s infotainment system. Your phone connects to the car over a wired or wireless connection, while substituting a handful of features — like your device's keyboard — for driving-friendly replacements, such as Assistant. Despite the obvious benefits of such systems, earlier this year, GM announced its future EVs won’t support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, instead preferring Android Automotive running alongside proprietary software called Ultifi.
Android Automotive is coming to a Porsche near you, complete with Google apps
Google Maps, Assistant, and more from the Play Store will be integrated
Through Android Automotive, you can leverage a wide array of apps in your car while on the go. It’s this type of integration that makes it convenient to do everything from queuing music to getting directions home. Many automotive manufacturers have already begun to integrate the software into their infotainment systems, and now, Porsche is joining the group.
Electric vehicles have several advantages, including zero emissions, lower operating costs, better performance, and the convenience of charging them at home. However, most come with a range of about 300 miles or less, which may not be enough to travel long distances. Still, it's possible to recharge your battery along the way, but doing so requires more planning than simply stopping to refuel.
Google wants to turn your car into an Android tablet with wheels
With new apps coming to Android Auto and Automotive, sitting in a parked car never felt so cool
It's shaping up to be a busy fall for Android. Just last week, we got our latest Quarterly Feature Drop for all phones, delivering some timely updates to apps like Wallet and a refreshed look for Assistant At a Glance. We're also looking forward to Android 14, though considering its rumored October launch, we could be waiting a while longer. Thankfully, Android in cars is getting a fresh slate of upgrades in the coming weeks that could act as a distraction to this year's delayed OS upgrade.
Cars with Google are getting multiscreen support and even more new app categories
Waze and YouTube are also making an arrival on cars with Google built-in
Google has made major inroads to our vehicles thanks to the success of Android Auto, which is on track to be in more than two-hundred million cars this year. Just as Google’s original project is about to cross this major milestone, its successor is on the way to completely changing how we think of in-car infotainment systems. Cars with Google built-in will see some major new features this year.
Car manufacturers might suck the fun out out of Material You on Android Automotive
The OEMs could choose the colors instead of an algorithm
For many years, Android Auto has provided most drivers with a competent-if-flawed option to map out their trips and listen to their favorite music, but some newer cars are replacing this feature with Android Automotive, a dedicated operating system for automobiles. While this OS has been around since 2017, it's been slow to adapt to Google's aesthetic. That could change soon, as Material You themes could start making their way to Android Automotive — with a catch.
Android Automotive's first (and only) browser has big plans for the future
Vivaldi's CEO shares his plans to repeat Opera Mini's success story
Android Automotive is slowly but steadily taking over the car market. The car-optimized version of Android is running on quite a few manufactures' in-vehicle infotainment systems, allowing you to access all your favorite apps, like Google Maps, Spotify, and more, on the go. One thing has been missing for a long time, though, and that’s a regular web browser for you to use while your car is parked. Vivaldi changed that back in December 2021, becoming the first (and so far only) browser to make itself available for cars.
BMW won't use Google apps when it transitions to Android Automotive next year
The auto company won't let Google take over its infotainment system
BMW's reluctance to join Google's ecosystem ended in 2020, when it finally added support for Android Auto to some of its vehicles after relying on Apple’s CarPlay for many years. It even added support for wireless connections, making BMW one of the few auto companies to let drivers use Google’s dashboard without having to plug in. The automaker took things a step further last year when it confirmed that it would adopt Android Automotive, a version of Android designed to power cars from the ground up. At CES 2023, BMW shared more details about its plan to bake the platform into its infotainment system.
Honda is introducing its first Android Automotive car with Google built-in
Command your 2023 Accord Touring with Assistant
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are quite effective at smartifying your car’s infotainment system and bringing the familiarity of your smartphone OS to your commute. Android Automotive takes things a step further, letting your car run Android OS natively. Honda initially planned to introduce cars with AAOS in 2022, but it looks like things will finally kick off next year, as the car-maker confirms plans for the 2023 Accord to offer Android Automotive with Google Automotive Services.
Waze is coming to your Android Automotive car
Rolling out on select Renault vehicles, coming soon to more cars
Read update
Google offers two platforms for in-car infotainment. There is the phone-based Android Auto, which allows you to connect your favorite handset with your vehicle’s display to access some of your apps on the go. There is also Android Automotive, which serves as an operating system for cars’ infotainment systems with Google built-in. Waze has long been available for the former, but Google’s navigation system is now finally making the jump to Android Automotive, too.
This guy is turning his old Galaxy Tab into an Android Automotive head unit
Complete with Android Auto support
There are numerous ways to recommission old Android devices for new purposes, like turning your phone into a security camera, but these kinds of things usually only involve apps or other light changes to devices. But what if you could turn your old tablet or smartphone into a proper car head unit, with full support for Android Automotive and Android Auto? Mishaal Rahman set out to answer this question and has started the long process of turning an old Galaxy Tab S5e into an Android Automotive head unit.
Android Automotive 13 is here, just two months after 12L arrived in cars
It comes complete with the Privacy Dashboard, new vehicle properties, and more
It's only been a couple of months since Android 12L was made available for Android Automotive devices, but considering it's no longer the new kid on the block, it's time for another release. Google has released the latest patch notes for its car-powering OS, and while they might not look exciting on paper, it shows some real commitment on the company's part to keep automakers and drivers alike satisfied.
BMW is switching gears from Linux to Android Automotive next year
It's only coming to certain models to start
Most drivers with Android phones are probably relying on Android Auto these days — assuming, of course, they have a car that supports it. There's a big difference between projecting your smartphone to your car's built-in display and a vehicle that actually runs on Android, though, and that's where Android Automotive comes in. We're finally seeing more vehicles running on Google's full-blown OS over the last couple of years, and starting in 2023, BMW will be the latest company added to the list.
Apple's next-gen CarPlay teaser is making me anxious about Android Automotive
Is Google about to blow its lead?
Apple kicked off WWDC today with a look at iOS 16, an update that promises to bring a whole lot of Android's customizability to iPhones. Nearly all of the features announced in today's keynote — from that fancy new lock screen to that sweet drag-and-drop feature we're begging Google to copy — will arrive this fall. That said, one thing teased today that will decidedly not arrive in the coming months — or even this year — is the next-gen version of CarPlay, a tool that seems to rival Android Automotive as tech companies duel it out for the fate of your next car.
Here's what you can expect from the new Android Automotive 12L
Android Automotive 12L lands with Bluetooth improvements, quick controls, and better notifications
Android 12L may seem like an old hat at this point, given that it feels like Android 13 is right around the corner, but many manufacturers are still in the process of upgrading to these older Android versions. And now, Google has made the latest release of Android 12 available to car manufacturers as Android Automotive 12L, bringing a few key improvements to the in-car infotainment experience.
Android Auto is almost ready for split screen mode as streaming video apps come to Automotive
Google's biggest refinement to the driving experience yet
While most of the big announcements from Google I/O 2022 came yesterday during the keynote or in sessions shortly after, day two still has a couple of exciting product-specific reveals. During a session dedicated to Android for cars, several substantial changes were announced that will make the in-car experience more convenient and enjoyable.
You won't be able to upgrade your 2022 Ford to Android Automotive
The carmaker's transition to Android Automotive has been pushed back a few months
Android Auto has been around for years and has been available in cars from many manufacturers such as Hyundai, Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet. These days, buying a new car means your head unit will likely support it. Android Automotive, however, differs as it's a version of Android meant to power your whole car's infotainment experience. That software is much more recent, and we've only started to see it in cars over the past year.
The first Android Automotive car is keeping good pace with OS updates, so far
Polestar 2 drivers are now up to date with the latest version
Android Automotive still hasn’t made much of an impact among car buyers, but that’s to be expected when very few manufacturers have started shipping it with vehicles in the two years since Google collaborated with Polestar to launch the first model. Nevertheless, many people are understandably nervous about committing to a smart infotainment system for the better half of a decade when it runs on an OS with a reputation for losing updates after two or three years — thank the phone makers for that one. It’s still too early to judge how things will turn out for cars, but a new update for the Polestar 2 marks its second major OS update, and the point where we probably have to start watching for both good and bad habits to emerge.