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Android Auto

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This article is about the application intended for using an Android device in a vehicle. For the operating system tailored for cars, see Android Automotive.
Android Auto
Original author(s)Google
Developer(s)Google
Initial releaseMarch 19, 2015; 10 years ago (2015-03-19)
Operating systemAndroid 6.0+[1]
TypeTelematics
LicenseProprietary
Websiteandroid.com/auto

Android Auto is a mobile app developed by Google to mirror features of an Android device, such as a smartphone, on a car's dashboard information and entertainment head unit.

Once an Android device is paired with the head unit, the system can mirror some apps on the vehicle's display. Supported apps include GPS mapping and navigation, music playback, SMS, telephone, and Web search. The system supports both touchscreen and button-controlled head units. Hands-free operation through voice commands is available and recommended to reduce driver distraction.

Android Auto is part of the Open Automotive Alliance, a joint effort of 28 automobile manufacturers, with Nvidia as tech supplier, available in 36 countries.

Functionality

Android Auto home screen

The most common way Android Auto is deployed is via an Android mobile device running the Android Auto app, acting as a master to a vehicle's dashboard head unit that supports this functionality.[2] Once the user's Android device is connected to the vehicle, the head unit will serve as an external display for the Android device, presenting supported software in a car-specific user interface provided by the Android Auto app.[2][3] In Android Auto's first iterations, the device was required to be connected via USB to the car.[4]

Alternatively, in November 2016, Google added the option to run Android Auto as a regular app on an Android device, i.e., not tethered to a car's head unit, which allows it to be used on Android-powered head units, or simply on a personal phone or tablet in the vehicle.[5]

Availability

Countries where Android Auto is available

As of April 2021, Android Auto is available in 42 countries:[6]

  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Denmark
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • France
  • Germany
  • Guatemala
  • India
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Portugal
  • Puerto Rico
  • Russia
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela

History

  • June 25, 2014: Android Auto was revealed at Google I/O 2014.
  • March 19, 2015: Android Auto was released.[7]
  • November 2016: Google added the option to run Android Auto as a regular app on an Android device.[5]
  • July 2019: Android Auto received its first major UI rework, which among other changes, brought an app drawer to Android Auto for the first time. Google also announced that the app's ability of being used on a phone would be discontinued in favor of Google Assistant's drive mode.[8]
  • December 2020: Google announced the expansion of Android Auto to 36 additional countries in Europe, Indonesia, and more.[9]
  • April 2021: Android Auto launched in Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden.[10]

App support

An Android Auto SDK has been released, allowing third parties to modify their apps to work with Android Auto;[3] initially, only APIs for music and messaging apps are available.[11][12]

At CES 2018, Google confirmed that the Google Assistant would be coming to Android Auto later in the year.[13]

Currently supported apps include Google Maps and Waze, popular music players such as Google Play Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify; and messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts, Skype and Telegram.

Head unit support

See also: Automotive head unit

In May 2015, Hyundai became the first manufacturer to offer Android Auto support, making it first available in the 2015 Hyundai Sonata.[14] Automobile manufacturers that will offer Android Auto support in their cars include Abarth, Acura, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley (will be coming soon), Buick, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, GMC, Genesis, Holden,[15] Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar Land Rover, Jeep, Kia, Lamborghini, Lexus, Lincoln, Mahindra and Mahindra, Maserati[16], Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, RAM, Renault, SEAT, Škoda, SsangYong, Subaru, Suzuki, Tata Motors Cars, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.[17]

Additionally, aftermarket car-audio systems supporting Android Auto add the technology into host vehicles, including Pioneer,[18] Kenwood,[19] Panasonic,[20] and Sony.[21][22]

Criticism

In May 2019, Italy filed an antitrust complaint targeting Android Auto, citing that a Google policy of only allowing third-party media and messaging apps on the platform prevented Enel from offering an app for locating vehicle charging stations.[23]

Initially, Google did not enable third parties to integrate their mapping apps with Android Auto, only its own apps, Google Maps and Waze, being available.[24] But since 2020, 3rd party mapping apps such as Sygic are available too.[25]

Google announced a new SDK to be released to select partners in August 2020 and to be generally available by the end of 2020.[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Android Auto - Get more answers". Android. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b Devine, Richard (June 26, 2014). "What you need to know about Android Auto". Android Central. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Goodwin, Antuan (June 25, 2014). "Google's new Android Auto is like Google Now for your car". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  4. ^ Gorman, Michael (June 25, 2014). "Google gives us a simulated ride with Android Auto". Engadget. AOL Inc. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Android Auto: now available in every car". Official Google Blog. 2016-11-07. Archived from the original on 2016-11-07.
  6. ^ "Is the Android Auto app available in my country?". Android. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  7. ^ Welch, Chris. "Google's launch of Android Auto starts today with Pioneer head units". The Verge. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  8. ^ "The new Android Auto officially starts rolling out today, and it's mostly an improvement". 2019-07-30.
  9. ^ Schoon, Ben (2020-12-03). "Android Auto expands to 36 more countries mainly in Europe". 9to5Google. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  10. ^ @Android (March 30, 2021). "Android Auto is rolling out to Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Moynihan, Tim (June 25, 2014). "Google Announces Android Auto, Its Answer to Apple's CarPlay". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  12. ^ "Autoradio GPS". Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  13. ^ Reigh, Brian (8 January 2018). "Google Assistant will soon live inside your car". Android Authority. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Android Auto: The First Great In-Car Infotainment System". WIRED. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
  15. ^ "Android Auto for Holden". Android. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  16. ^ "Maserati Second Generation head unit by AuCar for GranTurismo and GranCabrio". AuCar. 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  17. ^ https://www.android.com/auto/
  18. ^ "Pioneer-Android-Auto". Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  19. ^ "Kenwood-Android-Auto". Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  20. ^ "Android Auto for Panasonic". Android. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  21. ^ "Android Auto for Sony". Retrieved 2017-07-25.
  22. ^ Kim Bussing, Anton Galang (27 June 2019). "The 8 Best Car Stereo Systems of 2019". Lifewire. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  23. ^ O'Kane, Sean (2019-05-17). "Italy opens antitrust probe into Google because of a rejected Android Auto app". The Verge. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  24. ^ "Wake Up Google! Your Customers Want Freedom of Navigation in Android Auto". www.sygic.com (in French). Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  25. ^ Beedham, Matthew (2020-12-15). "Google's Android Auto finally has a third-party app for navigation". Shift | The Next Web. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  26. ^ "New ways to reach more drivers on Android for cars". googleblog.com. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
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