Do more and have more fun with the next generation of Android in the car

From the very beginning, our mission for Auto has been simple but powerful — to make every journey more seamless, safe and connected. We're building toward that mission on both Android Auto and cars with Google built-in.

With more than 250 million Android Auto-compatible cars on the road today, we continue to bring the best of your phone to every drive. The next generation of Android Auto features a stunning new experience, premium entertainment and a more helpful Gemini.

And those aren’t the only updates we’re bringing to your garage. Cars with Google built-in, now available in more than 100 models from 16 brands, are getting new and improved apps, including a more deeply integrated Gemini and Google Maps.

Here’s everything that’s new.

Android Auto's new experience

Designed to feel uniquely yours, Android Auto is getting a full refresh that brings personal design touches, widgets you can see at a glance and edge-to-edge Google Maps to your dash. It’s also tailored to fit and look great on any car screen, whether it's an ultrawide rectangle, a circle or a unique shape.

To make your dash unique to you, Android Auto brings the Material 3 Expressive design from your phone to your car with expressive fonts, smooth animations and wallpapers.

You can customize even further with widgets, which let you see the things that matter to you at a glance, even while actively navigating. Add a shortcut to your favorite contacts, a one-tap garage door opener, a weather overview and more.

And at the core of this experience is Immersive Navigation — our biggest update to Google Maps in over a decade. Your map will come to life with a vivid 3D view that shows buildings, overpasses and terrain. It will highlight critical details — including lanes, traffic lights and stop signs — to help you make tricky turns and merge confidently.

Premium entertainment with full HD video

With high-definition screens, premium stereo systems and comfortable seating, modern cars can be the perfect personal movie theaters when you’re parked or charging. That's why we're introducing a premium entertainment experience.

For the first time in Android Auto, you’ll be able to sit back, relax and watch videos on apps like YouTube. Look for it in crisp 60fps full HD in supported cars later this year, starting with BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata and Volvo.

And when you switch gears from parked to drive, videos don’t abruptly stop. They safely and seamlessly transition to audio-only in apps that support background audio — perfect for when you want to continue listening to a video podcast you were watching.

Speaking of audio, Android Auto will soon put you at the center of the music with immersive, spatial sound using Dolby Atmos in supported apps and cars, starting with BMW, Genesis, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata and Volvo.

And that's not all. Media apps, including YouTube Music and Spotify, are getting visual tune-ups, so they’ll be even easier to use in the car.

Gemini Intelligence on the road

Android Auto's next-generation experience doesn't just look and sound great — it has a more helpful Gemini.

Gemini is now widely available in Android Auto to help you get more done, brainstorm ideas or learn something new while driving. And if your phone has Gemini Intelligence, you’ll be able to access it in Android Auto later this year. With Gemini Intelligence, your device understands your context, anticipates your needs and gets things done on your behalf.

That means if you get a text from a friend asking for an address, Magic Cue will understand the context of the question, find the answer using information from your text messages, email or calendar, and offer to send a reply with the right information, all in a single tap.

You’ll also be able to order dinner while you’re driving, starting with Doordash. Just tell Gemini, "Order my usual fish tacos on Doordash for pickup, but double the order." After you confirm your order with a tap, your dinner will be prepped while you're driving and ready when you arrive to pick it up.

Big upgrades to cars with Google built-in

Cars with Google built-in run the best of Google and an ecosystem packed with your favorite apps — including video apps, games and more — directly on your car screen. The improved media apps and seamless video-to-audio transition coming to Android Auto are coming to cars with Google built-in too — plus, access to meeting apps, including Zoom, this year.

Apps like Gemini and Maps are even better in cars with Google built-in, because we worked closely with automakers to integrate deeply with your vehicle’s hardware. Gemini, which is currently rolling out to cars with Google built-in, will answer questions that are specific to your actual car — like identifying a mysterious indicator light on the dashboard or letting you know if the TV you’re about to pick up will fit in your trunk.

In eligible cars with Google built-in, Immersive Navigation in Google Maps will be even more precise, thanks to live lane guidance, which will work entirely in the car to analyze the road through your vehicle's front-facing camera. Live lane guidance will understand what lane you’re in and advise you in real time as you change lanes or exit.

Whether you're parked or en route, running late or running errands, helpful updates to Android Auto and cars with Google built-in will be coming to your car throughout the year. ¹