Google is rolling out new Android Auto features Thursday, making it easier for drivers to navigate, play podcasts and music, and communicate on the go.
The new user experience design update, first unveiled during Google’s I/O event in May, features a split-screen layout that displays directions, music, and text — the essentials — simultaneously. Now drivers no longer have to leave the map view and navigate through menus and settings to quickly pause a song or view a message.
According to Google, the split-screen layout is compatible with all cars, so it can reconfigure itself depending on whether the car’s screen is portrait, widescreen, or a different size. The company didn’t respond to TechCrunch’s question about whether the new Android Auto features would be rolling out today via over-the-air software updates to all Android-enabled vehicles.
At CES on Thursday, Google shared more details about what the display will look like for drivers. Maps is now positioned closer to the driver’s seat on the screen, and there’s a “quick launcher” that gives drivers quick access to recently used apps. The new media card features Material You, Google’s new unified design language to showcase a driver’s favorite album cover.
Android Auto also gets a Google Assistant update, which now offers smart suggestions including missed call reminders, quick arrival time sharing and instant access to media. Google is rolling out a progress bar for music or podcasts so riders can skip ahead in a song or episode (yay for skipping ads!), which the company said was one of its top-requested features. There will also be on-screen shortcuts for replying to messages and calling favorite contacts, and the latest Pixel and Samsung phones will soon be able to make calls using WhatsApp with Android Auto.
In addition to the user design and user experience updates, Google is also making it easier to share digital car keys. Currently, users can share digital keys across Pixels and iPhones, but this will soon be extended to Samsung phones and Xiaomi users. This is already supported by BMW vehicles, but the digital car key will be extended to more brands in the future, says Google.
Updates for cars with integrated Google
Honda, Chevrolet, Polestar, Volvo and a number of other OEMs have integrated Google into their cars, meaning Google Assistant, Google Maps and more apps from Google Play can be found right on the car’s screen without depending on a phone.
At CES, Google hinted that other car brands such as Ford and Lincoln will also be built with Google later in 2023 and shared a number of updates to this integrated service, including:
- Select Renault vehicles now have the Waze app available.
- Automakers using Google Automotive Services now have Google’s new HD map, starting with the Volvo EX90 and the Polestar 3. The HD map includes precise road details such as lane markings, signs and roadblocks to show the advanced driver assistance technologies that hands promise , better support -free driving on certain roads.
- YouTube can be viewed on the car screen while the driver is standing. This is in addition to Tubi and MGM+ already available on Google Play. Google said it would bring this feature to Volvo cars at CES last year.
