Android Auto Gets Major Update: What Does It Look Like and When Will You Get It?

Android Auto for 2022 has been redesigned to work better on larger displays. Here's what you need to know about this major update.

Android Auto has come a long way since it was first introduced in 2014. It has gone through multiple design iterations and is now found globally on over 150 million cars. To keep up with the times, the infotainment systems of modern vehicles have also grown in size, with some sporting an ultrawide screen while others feature a portrait-style display.

However, the current Android Auto UI failed to take full advantage of these varying sizes as it was never designed to cater to such different displays. To fix this, Google is redesigning Android Auto with a new scalable split-screen layout for newer generation cars to better suit the displays with different sizes and aspect ratios. Here's what you can expect.

Android Auto's New Split-Screen Redesign Makes It Smarter Than Before

Depending on your car's infotainment display size, Android Auto will automatically scale to show the panels for app launcher, notifications, and Google Assistant. If your vehicle has an ultrawide display, these panels will appear on the left. And if the infotainment system uses a vertical display, they will be shown at the bottom.

The new design will ensure you don't have to go back to Android Auto's home screen every time you need to access the app launcher.

The main UI will consist of three sections. The first two are navigation and media controls, and the last one dynamically changes to show contextually relevant information like new incoming messages, a clock, and more.

Android Auto is even getting smarter and gaining deeper Google Assistant integration. When you start a trip, you can easily share a link with your arrival time with your friends, you can use one-tap quick replies for messages, and more. Additionally, you will be able to call your favorite contacts with just a single tap without using your voice.

These changes will be coming to Android Auto this summer. They will be available on all new and old vehicles, as long as they support Android Auto.

If you have just gotten a new car that supports it, make sure to check out the most important Android Auto settings you should tweak.

Android Automotive to Gain Support for Third-Party Video Streaming Apps

Apart from Android Auto, Google is also bringing several improvements to cars with Google built-in, a.k.a Android Automotive. These have infotainment systems that run a special version of Android meant specifically for vehicles, and include the likes of the Volvo C40, XC40, and Polestar 2.

Currently, it is possible to use YouTube on such vehicles while they are parked. Google will expand this capability to third-party video streaming apps, including Tubi and Epix Now. The feature will be exclusive to vehicles from Volvo for a short period of time before making its way to other cars with Android Automotive OS.

The big G is also looking to bring Google Cast support to such cars, so you'll be able to stream the content you want from your phone. Lastly, a web browser is being developed for Android Automotive OS and should arrive later this year.

To make the lives of developers easier, Google will provide them with tools that will allow them to quickly adapt their tablet apps for parked-car experiences, speed up the process of developing and publishing Android Auto and Android Automotive OS apps, and build more feature-rich apps.

The tools will open the doors to new kinds of Android Auto apps. Right now, the best Android Auto apps are limited to media playback, navigation, and messaging.

Android Auto's Redesign Will Bring It Up to Date

Google is making Android Auto smarter and more useful with the new redesign. The dynamic layout will automatically adjust itself to deliver the best experience based on your vehicle's infotainment display size, which is bound to further increase with time.