Google Says Your Favourite Apps Are Coming To Android Auto

Building on the updates that Google revealed for Android Auto at CES, now at Google I/O, the search engine giant revealed that Android Auto and cars with Android Automotive built-in will allow productivity apps, including video conferencing apps, within cars. Google revealed that it was working with partners like Microsoft Teams, WebEx by Cisco, and Zoom to bring their video conferencing and chat apps so that users could easily join a scheduled meeting by audio from the car’s infotainment system.

“Available in nearly 200 million cars by the end of this year, the newly redesigned Android Auto brings the best of your phone into your car. You can access thousands of media, messaging, navigation, parking, and charging apps right from your car display,” said Roshan Khan, Director Auto Product Management at Google.

On top of conferencing applications, Khan revealed in a blog post that vehicles with Google built-in (Android Automotive) were coming from brands like Chevrolet, Honda, Polestar, Renault, and Volvo. Google revealed that the number of cars is set to double in 2023.

Google is also now making YouTube available to cars that have Android Automotive. Previously, only YouTube Music, was available. Google is initially partnering with Polestar and its sister concern, Volvo. Google has also partnered with GameSnacks for Android Auto, and drivers will have access to titles like Beach Buggy Racing 2, Solitaire FRVR, and My Talking Tom Friends.

The in-car Google Assistant experience is also getting smarter, as it will share suggestions so that users can quickly respond to messages, share arrival times, and more with a tap from the display. This feature will also come to cars with Android Automotive.

Last but not least, something that has been rumoured for a while is the integration of Waze. While it had already been available for Android Auto, now it will be available on the Google Play Store for Android Automotive and will first appear in the Chevrolet Blazer EV. Waze is great for electric cars as it reports traffic in real-time.

Google Maps also now borrows more features from Waze related to EV stations for charging and other features like the type of EV plug near your vehicle or on your route.