Android Auto continues to evolve, bringing smarter assistants, enhanced widgets, and improved interface elements designed to create a more seamless and driver-focused in-car experience for everyone.
Android Auto has often felt like an unfinished project, partly because of recurring bugs, but also due to Google’s constant effort to refine and expand its features. The company is actively developing new functionality aimed at improving the overall driving experience, and some of these updates have already surfaced in recent beta builds.
Google’s development process is fairly straightforward: it experiments with new ideas through Android Auto beta releases before pushing them to production. Since not every feature is active by default, enthusiasts often rely on APK teardowns to discover hidden additions. By analyzing the app’s code, they can identify what Google is working on—and right now, several promising upgrades appear close to release.
It’s no secret that Google Assistant has struggled on Android Auto, often failing to recognize commands or handle basic tasks like placing calls. Google plans to retire the Assistant and introduce Gemini, its next-generation AI-based voice engine. Gemini promises smoother, more natural conversations and advanced functions such as searching through Google Maps business listings and user reviews directly via voice.
Google has already showcased Gemini’s in-car integration in collaboration with Mercedes, which plans to include it in upcoming models. The rollout for Android Auto is expected by the end of this year.
Widgets have existed on Android Auto for a while, mainly through the taskbar introduced with the Coolwalk redesign. These mini-controllers let users manage navigation and media playback with dynamic buttons. Google now intends to take this further by bringing full-fledged Android widgets from smartphones into Android Auto.
Unlike Apple’s CarPlay, which places widgets on a separate side panel, Google plans to embed them directly on the main interface. Existing widgets such as weather and calendar are already in testing, with long-term plans to support most phone widgets natively on Android Auto.
When Coolwalk debuted, it introduced a dashboard that could display multiple apps—like navigation, calls, and music—side by side. Google now wants to enhance this multitasking experience by upgrading the media card. The new version will allow users to browse and launch playlists or favorite content without switching apps, giving quicker access to media controls.
Other improvements are in the pipeline as well. Android Auto will soon adapt its accent colors based on the user’s phone wallpaper, and new features like Call Notes and Call Screen are coming to Pixel devices.
Google Maps has also gained expanded incident reporting support for smaller in-car screens, allowing users to mark hazards and contribute real-time traffic data. This feature, first introduced on mobile in 2019, now works on displays as small as seven inches.
Aside from the Maps update, most of these additions are still under active development. Google hasn’t provided an exact timeline for their global release, and as usual, updates will roll out gradually—even if your app is already up to date.