Bad News for CarPlay Users: Leak Points to New Motorola Android Auto Wireless Adapter

It’s official: Motorola is preparing a new Android Auto wireless adapter. The company has traditionally kept quiet about this product category, and even its first model never received a major marketing push.

Still, Motorola clearly hasn’t walked away from the wireless Android Auto segment. A fresh FCC filing spotted this week suggests a new adapter is on the way — and it also delivers disappointing news for Apple CarPlay users.

The listing lays out most of the important details.

Motorola introduced its first Android Auto wireless adapter, the MA1, back in January 2022. At the time, Google actively supported the launch, while AAWireless was dominating the market. Google’s involvement gave buyers extra confidence, and demand surged almost immediately.

Motorola wasn’t prepared for such strong interest. During the first six months, the MA1 suffered from serious availability issues, with stock frequently running dry. Eventually, supply stabilized and the adapter became easier to find.

After that, the MA1 started seeing deep discounts. Then, in summer 2024, it quietly vanished from Amazon and other major retailers. Many took this as a sign that Motorola was exiting the category, especially since the company never clarified its long-term plans.

The adapter later reappeared on Amazon and is currently selling for about half its original $89.99 launch price.

Now, all signs point to a successor.

The FCC filing shows a device manufactured by Meizhou Guo Wei Electronics — the same partner that built the original MA1. Documents included in the listing, such as the user manual, refer to the product as “MA2,” confirming this is a direct follow-up.

Photos published with the filing reveal a redesigned enclosure: a rectangular body with rounded corners. The change appears to be driven by internal hardware updates, as images of the motherboard suggest Motorola needed extra space inside.

Another notable upgrade is cable support. The documentation shows two cables in the box: USB-C to USB-A and USB-C to USB-C. This ensures compatibility with both older vehicles and newer cars that now ship with USB-C ports.

Buyers will also get the adapter itself, a gel mounting pad, and a quick-start guide.

The MA2 features a physical switch, a single button, and an LED status light. The switch powers the device on and off, allowing users to leave it plugged in while disabling wireless Android Auto when needed — handy for those who occasionally prefer the native infotainment system without messing with Bluetooth settings.

The lone button sits on the front, integrated into the Motorola logo, and is used for pairing.

Unlike its main competitor, AAWireless TWO, Motorola’s MA2 doesn’t include a dedicated control for switching between multiple paired phones.

AAWireless has also released a CarPlay-focused version that enables wireless connections for iPhone users. Motorola appears to be taking a different path. The FCC leak confirms the MA2 is Android Auto only, with no CarPlay support planned — at least for now.

Given Google’s involvement with the original MA1, this approach isn’t surprising. It remains unclear whether Google is participating in the second-generation model. There’s also no word yet on whether Motorola plans to offer a companion app for firmware updates.

A launch date hasn’t been announced, but FCC approval usually means release plans aren’t far off. Motorola could unveil the MA2 later this year. Pricing is still unknown, though current MA1 discounts may deepen as the company clears remaining inventory ahead of the new model.

Hopefully, the MA2 will prove more stable than its predecessor. The first-generation adapter developed a reputation for reliability issues, with some users reporting complete failures over time. Many ultimately switched to AAWireless, so Motorola is likely counting on the MA2 to win back lost ground.