- Google is giving Android Auto its biggest redesign yet
- Widgets, immersive 3D Google Maps navigation and video are all on the way
- Gemini AI is becoming deeply integrated into Android Auto and Google’s built-in cars
Google has announced major upgrades to its Android Auto product, with the company saying the next generation of the software offers a “fantastic new experience, premium entertainment and a more helpful Gemini”.
On top of this, Google has worked with most of the major car manufacturers to improve the offerings of the more than 100 models from 16 brands that have an infotainment system running the Android Automotive operating system.
The most obvious upgrade is the redesign itself. Android Auto adopts Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language, bringing sleeker animations, bolder typography and more customization options to the dashboard.
Widgets also arrive, allowing drivers to pin key information directly to the home screen. Think weather updates, most used contacts and even smart home shortcuts like garage door control.
But the biggest visual leap is Google Maps’ new “Immersive Navigation” mode. Google describes it as the biggest Maps upgrade in more than a decade, adding smart and detailed 3D images to roads, buildings and terrain, along with improved lane guidance, traffic light indicators and stop signs.
For drivers using increasingly massive infotainment screens – especially in modern electric cars – this could make navigation dramatically clearer and more intuitive.
Dolby Atmos comes to the dashboard
After a long wait, video playback is finally coming to Android Auto, allowing parked drivers to stream apps like YouTube in full HD at 60fps directly to compatible car displays.
Supported brands at launch include BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Skoda and Volvo.
Crucially, Google says that playback doesn’t just stop when you first start driving. Instead, supported apps, such as Spotify and other Pod catchers, can switch from video to audio-only mode, ideal for podcasts and long-form YouTube content.
Audio also gets an upgrade, with Dolby Atmos spatial audio support arriving in compatible vehicles and apps.
Combined with the increasingly impressive speaker systems in premium EVs and luxury cars, this can turn charging stops into true cinema experiences.
Gemini gets a big boost
Gemini is already rolling out more broadly across Android Auto, but later this year users with Gemini Intelligence-enabled phones will get deeper contextual features.
The idea is to make your car assistant proactive rather than reactive.
Google’s example includes Gemini, which automatically understands a friend’s text asking for an address, finds the relevant information in your emails, messages or calendar and suggests a response with a single tap.
The system will even handle food orders while driving. Google demonstrated users asking Gemini to reorder meals through DoorDash, with pickup ready upon arrival.
What’s more, those vehicles with Google built in will enjoy deeper integration between Gemini and the vehicle itself, with the AI assistant able to access vehicle information.
Ultimately, this means you can ask Gemini questions about the car, such as what a warning light might mean or, as Google demonstrated, whether something will fit in the trunk.
Google Maps will also be able to use the vehicle’s front-facing cameras (if it has them) so it has a better understanding of the lane position and can then provide the appropriate guidance in real time.
The software giant hasn’t given a specific date for the arrival of these upgrades, just stating that they’ll be coming to your car “throughout the year.”
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