Google is planning a significant change to the Android Auto platform to offer users a more modern, visually appealing and functionally uniform system for cars.
According to XDA Developers, the company wants Android Auto and Android Automotive to become much more connected and consistent, with the goal of making the in-vehicle experience simpler and more intuitive.
The changes are presented through Google’s new software development strategy for cars, which includes a complete refresh of the interface, improved integration of applications and expansion of functionality beyond the classic infotainment system. In this way, Google is trying to further strengthen its position in the automotive industry, where it has been leading the race with Apple’s CarPlay system for years.
Focus on a more modern and “cohesive” look
According to “XDA Developers”, Google wants Android Auto to get “a more beautiful and cohesive look”, that is, that the various elements of the system act as a single unit. The new design should bring better use of the screen, more modern animations and clearer controls that will allow drivers to use it more easily while driving.
The company is especially working to make the experience adapted to different screen sizes and formats in cars. Android Auto will thus be able to function more efficiently on wide screens, vertical displays and more advanced digital dashboards that are becoming standard in new vehicles.
Google previously introduced a redesign known as “CoolWalk”, which enabled split-screen display and simultaneous display of navigation, music and messages. The new plans are a continuation of that strategy and further bringing the Android Auto system closer to modern automotive interfaces.
Android goes deeper into cars
One of the biggest changes concerns the Android Automotive OS, a system built directly into the car. Google now wants to expand its role and enable control of more vehicle functions, including climate, lighting, cameras, seats and other systems that were not connected to the Android platform until now.
Google believes that this approach will allow for a “much more cohesive experience”, as well as faster delivery of new features and software upgrades to cars. The company says it wants to reduce fragmentation in the automotive industry, where numerous manufacturers use different software solutions that are often incompatible with each other.
More apps and new features
Google is also working in parallel to expand support for applications within the Android Auto system. Thus, in the future, users will have access to a greater number of multimedia, video and gaming applications, especially when the vehicle is parked.
In addition, the company is developing a new generation of voice commands based on Gemini AI technology, which should improve communication between the driver and the vehicle. The goal is to make managing navigation, music and messages even more natural and without the need to touch the screen.
Google’s new strategy shows that the company increasingly sees cars as “computers on wheels” and Android as the central software of future vehicles. It is for this reason that the coming years are expected to bring the biggest changes to the Android Auto system since its launch in 2015.
