Android Automotive users are about to see a lot more apps in their vehicles

If you’re an Android Automotive user (the actual vehicle infotainment OS, not Android Auto, which just projects your phone to your car’s infotainment system running on another OS), you might soon see a lot more apps popping up in your car’s Google Play Store.

Finally rolling out next month

At the 2024 I/O conference last May, Google announced plans to collaborate with car manufacturers to bring more apps to automobile screens. The company’s vision was to automatically distribute apps that had large screen compatibility to the Android Automotive app store, so developers didn’t have to create a whole new app just for cars.

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That plan is finally rolling out next month. On a Google Developers page for car-ready mobile apps, Google says that starting in February 2025, eligible apps in the video, games, and browsers categories will be available for download in cars that run Android Automotive OS with Google built in.

The rules apps must follow

Google didn’t mention what apps might be on the way (it announced Angry Birds, Max, and Peacock last May), but did lay out some rules. Apps must be large screen compatible and must be able to be used while the car is in park. Specific car-optimized features aren’t required, and the app must function just like it would on any other large-screen Android device.

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Right now, a little under 200 offerings show as available for Android Automotive, including a variety of games, navigation, weather, podcast, and news apps.

Supported cars

The company also didn’t make note of what vehicles would be getting the new apps, but explained they would be available “on a variety of Cars with Google built in that have been certified by Google to meet the program requirements.” 

Also: Google is ending Android Auto support for older phones. Here’s why (and the simple fix)

Several auto manufacturers have been switching to Android Automotive for infotainment systems, including Acura, Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, and Volvo.

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