Android Automotive: Everything You Need To Know

Over the by few years, Google has really been talking up this new "Android Automotive" platform, at Google I/O. And it's virtually time we talked about what exactly Android Automotive is. Particularly now that GM is fully on-lath with Android Automotive and will be using information technology with all of their upcoming vehicles – starting with the new Hummer EV.

Android Automotive is very exciting, especially for those that are Android users. Imagine having your automobile running the same operating system as your smartphone and tablet. Now that is pretty cool. And Google is slowly getting motorcar makers on-lath with using information technology in their vehicles. Like with Android Auto, it'due south going to take time to make it widespread.

What is Android Automotive?

Android Automotive is essentially the operating system that will run your car's infotainment system. It runs direct on the in-vehicle hardware. It is a full-stack, open up source and highly customizable platform, that powers the infotainment system. And it supports apps built for Android, and those built for Android Car.

Like we've seen with early videos for GM's new Hummer that uses Android Automotive, car makers can still heavily customize Android Automotive.

Which ways we could see some heavy skins on Android Automotive similar we have seen on Android. It's a way for automobile makers to differentiate their vehicles to the competitors, and also brand it blend in better with the car'south interior. Like the Hummer EV in the video to a higher place, it looks way ameliorate with what you'd wait from a Hummer, versus the vanilla Android Automotive experience. And it besides gives y'all bigger affect targets.

Android Automobile vs Android Automotive

Android Auto has been around since 2015. Which makes Android Automotive even more than disruptive. Simply Google does actually practise a good job of making it easier to decipher the difference between the two on its Developer website:

Android Machine is a platform running on the user's phone, projecting the Android Auto user experience to a uniform in-vehicle infotainment organisation over a USB connection. Android Car supports apps designed for in-vehicle use.
Android Automotive is an operating organization and platform running direct on the in-vehicle hardware. Information technology is a full-stack, open source, highly customizable platform powering the infotainment experience. Android Automotive supports apps congenital for Android as well as those congenital for Android Motorcar.

Essentially, Android Auto is an experience that is powered by your smartphone, while Android Automotive runs natively on the hardware within your car – no smartphone required.

Android Automotive gives users a better experience. As they can just go far the car and starting time using their streaming service of pick, Google Maps, and even make phone calls, without having to plug in their telephone. That might sound like a minor matter, but it tin can make a large difference. Of course, you can do this with Wireless Android Auto, but Android Automotive volition non use up your phone's battery life. Which is really dainty.

What is Google Automotive Services?

Fifty-fifty though Google doesn't talk about it, y'all've likely heard about Google Mobile Services. This is basically the license that smartphone OEMs can utilize for, to be able to run Google services on their telephone. You've probably heard a lot more well-nigh GMS since the whole Huawei fiasco, and it losing admission to GMS since President Trump banned them from working with United states of america companies.

Well, Google Automotive Services or GAS, is essentially the same matter. As Google puts information technology "is a collection of applications and services that automotive OEMs can choose to license and integrate into their in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems.

Basically, if a car is using Android Automotive, it is in their best involvement to license GAS, which will make their user experience fifty-fifty better. Every bit GAS does include every Google service out there. That includes Google Banana, YouTube Music, Google Maps, and much more. Including the underlying Google Play Services.

Are apps bachelor in the Google Play Store?

Equally mentioned before, Android Automotive works with Android and Android Motorcar apps, which means that apps for Android Automotive are available within the Google Play Store. Including apps to control the temperature of your auto. In fact, Polestar'due south app for climate control is available in the Play Store (though y'all'll only encounter it if you accept a Polestar ii on your Google account). Merely, not all Android Auto apps are available for Android Automotive. Currently the list of Android Automotive apps is pretty short.

This opens up a lot of possibilities, as Polestar (and other auto makers) could also opt to really modify up the interface of the car. Or add boosted modes. As all it takes is a simple app update. It'southward pretty similar to what Motorola was doing almost a decade ago, where information technology pushed a lot of its organisation apps to the Play Shop and updated them that way. Instead of through a system update.

It's a pretty interesting way to meliorate your infotainment experience, but this ways that you could choose between unlike navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze, for example. Of course, this is just the early days of Android Automotive, so this could change vastly in the coming years.

What apps are available and what do they look like?

Like with Android Auto, apps on Android Automotive are forced to stick within strict design guidelines. And the signal in this is so that you don't spend a ton of time looking at the screen while y'all are driving. So the apps look similar to how they would in Android Auto, but maybe in a different attribute ratio. That means bigger bear on targets, which makes information technology easier to apply while driving.

However, with Android Automotive, app developers do get a bit more than leeway in how they can design their apps. Spotify, for example, looks sort of like how it does on the desktop. But with a larger DPI, of course.

There are still pattern guidelines for Android Automotive, but they aren't as strict. As we've seen with Polestar and Hummer and then far, companies don't need to stick with material pattern for Android Automotive. Though when it comes to media apps, the bear upon targets will mostly be in the aforementioned area, across dissimilar apps. So you tin can use muscle memory to alter songs, and such. Without having to look at the display for long.

Then there'due south sign ins. That'south withal something that Google, developers and automobile makers need to address. As signing in on the screen in your automobile isn't specially user friendly. Though, a screen like the Polestar ii has, is a lot easier. Equally it is a larger portrait orientation screen.

Motorcar makers are also releasing their ain apps to find chargers, specially for electrical and hybrid vehicles. Which is going to be a lot easier to use, then to pull out your phone and open up the PlugShare app to detect where you can charge your Polestar ii. These are apps that are needed for newer cars, which are also electric.

Do I need to login to use my motorcar?

Google is going to desire you to sign in, and of course that will make information technology easier to download and use apps. Merely information technology is not required. But nosotros would highly suggest you exercise, as the Android Automotive software can bring in deject preferences and user customization from your account.

Notably, offline Android Automotive should work pretty much the same as information technology does when you are logged in. All of the vehicle apps volition piece of work. Meaning yous don't need to sign into your Google account to alter the temperature on your Ac.

So why is Google making Android Automotive usable without an account? China. Countries like China where Google services are non bachelor, demand to be able to use these cars also. And in China, it would be pretty much impossible to use. Only they can nevertheless utilise apps like WeChat, QQ Music and Baidu Maps. Though information technology volition be interesting to run across how the Polestar 2 would look in China.

What vehicles support Android Automotive?

As of right now, there is but one machine maker that has vehicles on the route powered past Android Automotive. And that is Volvo. The Volvo XC40, and the Polestar 2 – which is Volvo's performance car brand.

Even so, many other manufacturers have come on-board and are going to be bringing in Android Automotive to its vehicles int he time to come. In September 2018, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance announced that they would use Android Automotive in its upcoming vehicles – starting with 2021 models. Then in September 2019, GM announced that they will utilise Android Automotive in all of its future cars. And finally Stellantis appear in July 2020 that it would employ it, and Ford announced in 2021.

So Google does take most of the bigger car companies on-board for using Android Automotive. Though things do move pretty slowly in the automotive space. And so even though nosotros should first seeing Android Automotive vehicles in 2021, it might be a year or two later before they become more popular.

These are the current cars that have Android Automotive congenital-in:

Volvo XC40 (electric and gas-powered models)
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90
Volvo C40
GMC Hummer EV
Polestar
Polestar 2
Polestar 3
Chevrolet Silverado EV
Chevrolet Equinox EV
Chevrolet Blazer EV

Why would a car maker utilize Android Automotive over their own organisation?

A big question with Android Automotive is, why would a machine maker similar Toyota desire to employ it over its ain system? As you might take noticed, Toyota has not jumped on board yet. Though they were pretty deadening in adopting Android Auto too.

And that's what Google has been trying to talk machine makers into doing. Allowing them, a software company, build the software for their vehicles. Which also means that they volition get tighter integration into Google services like Google Maps, Google Banana, and others. Which is much better than say, Ford's congenital-in navigation and vox commands. Which is why vehicle makers are starting to jump on board with Google pretty quickly.

How does Android Automotive benefit the user?

The biggest benefit is, this is going to exist software you are already familiar with. Particularly if you lot use Android. Instead of some cumbersome software that the manufacturer threw together, which is typically pretty terrible.

It's besides going to bring all of your favorite apps to your vehicle, without having to plug in your phone to use them. Like Spotify, Google Maps, Waze, Google Assistant and much more. Imagine beingness able to ask the Google Assistant to pass up the AC in your Hummer EV. That will exist possible thanks to Android Automotive, which is huge.

But the biggest do good is definitely the usable software. Nosotros've all used the software from companies like Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota and others, and know just how bad information technology really is. And Google volition alter that with Android Automotive here.

Will my next vehicle have Android Automotive?

Most probable. Even though the automotive infinite does move pretty slowly, your side by side automobile will most likely have Android Automotive. Unless you are buying a new car this month.

Where Google has Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Chevy, Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Volvo all on-board already for Android Automotive. It's very probable that your next vehicle is going to sport it. And as an Android user, that's going to make for an heady drive.