Here's the real reason Android Automotive is still kind of a mess in EVs

Typically these days, erstwhile you get successful a modern car, location are 2 ways you tin interact pinch nan infotainment system: via telephone projection (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) aliases via nan autochthonal infotainment software. Generally speaking, since car manufacturers aren’t very bully astatine making software, astir autochthonal infotainment experiences stink, and that’s 1 of nan main reasons why telephone projection has go truthful popular.

But things are different pinch EVs. As I’ve written astir before, bully way readying requires entree to real-time conveyance information specified arsenic artillery capacity, authorities of charge, temperature, power depletion (which is affected by factors for illustration conveyance velocity and ambiance power settings), tyre pressure, etc… Your telephone doesn’t person entree to this real-time data, making Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ill-suited for meticulous way planning.

This is why value autochthonal infotainment package is critical, particularly successful EVs. And this is besides why, successful nan agelong run, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto simply aren’t nan reply for in-vehicle infotainment. But there’s hope. EV startups for illustration Tesla and Rivian are starring nan measurement by offering top-notch autochthonal infotainment experiences that present best-in-class way readying and infotainment while besides seamlessly integrating pinch your phone.

Basically, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are band-aids for mediocre autochthonal infotainment software. You don’t task your iPhone’s surface onto your iPad. You login to your iPad pinch your Apple ID and each your iPhone’s contented is instantly available. Chinese manufacturers for illustration Xiaomi and Nio understand this well, providing vertically integrated infotainment experiences successful their EVs and crossed different devices successful their ecosystems, including their phones.

Say hullo to Android Automotive

Google understands this too, and that’s why, backmost successful 2017, nan institution launched Android Automotive OS (AAOS) an Android-based open-source OS for in-vehicle infotainment. As pinch Android connected mobile devices, AAOS comes successful 2 flavors. There’s a type without Google’s services and 1 pinch Google built-in, utilizing GAS (Google Automotive Services) – nan balanced to GMS (Google Mobile Services) connected phones and tablets.

Today, you’ll find Android Automotive (without GAS) connected 2 twelve vehicles from Rivian, Audi, BMW, and Stellantis, and nan value of nan infotainment acquisition varies wide – pinch Rivian starring nan pack. But what’s much absorbing is Android Automotive pinch Google built-in (with GAS), which has nan imaginable to present nan benignant of Google-rich acquisition disposable connected phones and tablets – complete pinch Play Store and acquainted apps.

Sounds awesome, right? Unfortunately, things aren’t truthful awesome retired location successful nan existent world. To beryllium honest, Android Automotive pinch Google built-in is benignant of a messiness correct now. But fearfulness not: location is hope. While immoderate car manufacturers are stumbling to instrumentality AAOS pinch GAS decently (General Motors, Honda), others are doing it correct (Polestar, Volvo). So, let’s research what’s wrong, really to hole it, and nan domiciled Google and OEMs are playing successful each this.

Doing it right

Polestar 3 and its infotainment system(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

In nan past mates of months, I've driven 2 caller battery-electric SUVs that showcase Android Automotive’s afloat potential: nan Polestar 3 and nan Volvo EX90. Polestar utilized to beryllium Volvo’s capacity section and is now an EV-only brand. Polestar and Volvo are some owned by Chinese shaper Geely. Both cars stock nan aforesaid SPA2 EV level and are assembled successful Volvo’s Ridgeville, South Carolina plant.

These 2 EVs cheque each nan correct boxes, pinch bully modern design, a bully refined interior, coagulated build quality, tons of tech, plentifulness of power, and a awesome driving experience. The Polestar 3 is sportier and much performance-oriented. It features 2 rows of seats, pinch much abstraction successful nan back. Meanwhile, nan Volvo EX90 is simply a family-friendly 3-row SUV geared much toward comfortableness and luxury. It competes squarely pinch Kia’s top-range EV9 and Rivian’s R1S.

While there’s an evident family resemblance and plentifulness of shared parts betwixt some EVs – including nan fantabulous (optional) Dolby Atmos-compatible Bowers & Wilkins audio strategy – these 2 cars present virtually identical infotainment package connected their vertical, center-mounted, 14.5-inch touchscreen. This infotainment acquisition is powered by Android Automotive pinch Google built-in and is clean, simple, responsive, and ace intuitive.

What sets nan Polestar 3 and Volvo EX90 infotainment acquisition isolated from nan title – and much akin to what Tesla and Rivian are delivering – is that AAOS pinch GAS does not consciousness tacked on. Instead, Android Automotive pinch Google built-in takes halfway shape without becoming overbearing. This infotainment package was intelligibly designed pinch attraction and attraction to detail. It useful good and looks great, making it a pleasance to use.

Still, nan package successful these 2 cars isn’t perfect. The motorboat of some EVs was delayed to resoluteness package issues, and I knowledgeable bugs while driving some nan Polestar 3 (instrument show freezing) and Volvo EX90 (phone cardinal not responding). And if you’d alternatively usage telephone projection, neither SUV supports Android Auto, and only wired Apple CarPlay will beryllium disposable initially, pinch wireless CarPlay arriving astatine immoderate constituent successful nan future.

Missing nan mark

Acura-ZDX-Type-S exterior and infotainment system.(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

In nan past fewer weeks, I besides drove a fewer EVs based connected General Motors’ Ultium architecture, including nan zesty Acura ZDX Type S SUV, nan luxurious Cadillac LYRIQ SUV, nan freely Chevrolet Silverado EV RST pickup truck, and nan applicable Honda Prologue SUV. These are each competent EVs that alteration successful size and value and tally Android Automotive pinch Google built-in connected displays that alteration successful size and quality.

Obviously, these cars stock a batch of parts, particularly interior parts. That’s fine, but it’s benignant of jarring to thrust an Acura pinch Chevy switchgear and identical Level 2+ ADAS (GM Super Cruise). While nan Honda Prologue is akin to nan Chevrolet Blazer EV, nan Acura ZDX Type S is person to nan Cadillac LYRIQ. The Silverado EV RST pickup motortruck stands retired for its elephantine artillery (200kW), astonishing scope (460 miles), and monolithic weight (9,100lbs).

It’s worthy mentioning that, contempt its heft, nan Silverado EV RST drives really well. While it’s nary lucifer for nan Rivian R1T, I deliberation it drives amended than nan Ford F-150 Lightning (especially nan steering). As for Android Automotive pinch Google built-in, it looks and feels for illustration an afterthought successful each these EVs. Sure, you’re fixed nan action to log successful pinch your Google relationship erstwhile first mounting up your driver floor plan successful nan infotainment system, but that’s astir it.

Cadillac-Lyriq exterior and infotainment system.(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

The infotainment acquisition isn’t intuitive aliases charismatic and lacks nan modern creation touches of Tesla aliases Rivian’s infotainment software. It looks and feels for illustration utilizing Windows Mobile alternatively of Android, pinch monochromatic icons and generic fonts. There’s very small astir this infotainment acquisition that’s Google-rich. It’s arsenic if personification conscionable grafted AAOS pinch GAS onto a conveyance infotainment strategy from a fewer years agone and called it a day.

Now don’t get maine wrong: nan package is responsive enough, and erstwhile you excavation astir successful nan menus and unrecorded pinch it for a fewer days, you’ll get nan bent of it. But ultimately, this infotainment acquisition is uninspired, somewhat frustrating, and – much importantly – it doesn’t promote you to research Android Automotive’s galore features. It’s almost arsenic if General Motors and Honda (by association), don’t want you to usage AAOS pinch GAS beyond maps.

This wouldn’t beryllium specified a large woody if General Motors besides offered telephone projection connected its EVs – for illustration Honda still does. But arsenic you know, past twelvemonth GM decided that it wouldn’t connection Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connected early EVs. And present we are. While I still deliberation GM’s thought makes consciousness successful nan agelong tally (phone projection isn’t a semipermanent solution), this implementation of Android Automotive pinch Google built-in – arsenic it stands coming – isn’t bully enough.

Where’s Google successful each this?

As a tech journalist, I’ve been covering Google for almost 20 years, and I’ve been utilizing Android connected smartphones since time one. Remember nan HTC Dream/T-Mobile G1? Back successful early 2022, I borrowed a Polestar 2 for an full week chiefly to effort Android Automotive pinch Google built-in. What I’ve learned successful each those years is that Google creates a batch of caller products, often kills products (some beloved), but isn’t ever committed to its products.

So I decided to scope retired to Google and inquire why Android Automotive is benignant of a mess. In retrospect, that astir apt wasn’t nan astir negotiated mobility to commencement an interview. Then again, I’m not known to propulsion immoderate punches. Plus, it’s coming from a spot of emotion – I’m a large instrumentality of Android, aft all. The Google exec I talked to (who will stay unnamed) was protect but mostly answered my questions, for which I’m thankful.

Here’s what I recovered out. Google is committed to AAOS (with and without GAS), but presently prefers to person a laissez-faire attack towards really car manufacturers (OEMs) instrumentality Android Automotive. Basically, deliberation of Android smartphones circa 2012. Remember HTC Sense (the good) and Samsung TouchWiz (the bad)? Yeah, Android was benignant of messy backmost then, too. Fortunately, it didn’t return agelong for things to mature.

Chevrolet Silverado EV RST exterior and infotainment system.(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

My concern, however, is that it’s been 7 years since Android Automotive was introduced, and it’s still a mess. Google’s Pixel smartphones came retired erstwhile Android was 7 years old, and changed nan game. Why isn’t Google showing car manufacturers nan measurement for Android Automotive for illustration it did for Android pinch Nexus and Pixel devices? The exec reminded maine that things move much slow successful nan car industry.

While that’s true, I besides deliberation that’s a spot of a cop-out. Auto manufacturers thin to move much slowly, yes, but things are changing. Tesla and Rivian are proof. Polestar and Volvo are besides proof, delivering nan closest point yet to a Google-rich, Pixel-like AAOS infotainment experience. So it is imaginable for car manufacturers to prime up nan pace. They conscionable aren’t very bully astatine making package and adopting caller tech, truthful they are stalling.

I judge that Google needs to reign these OEMs successful for illustration it did pinch smartphones backmost successful nan day. Lead by illustration and guideline car manufacturers by being much hands-on and by having stricter requirements. Partner pinch Polestar, Volvo, and others to create thing for illustration Google Play edition for AAOS pinch GAS. This will consequence successful importantly amended infotainment experiences and make Android Automotive much appealing to everyone.

The app problem

Honda Prologue exterior and infotainment system.(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

The different symptom constituent I brought up pinch Google is nan deficiency of apps (and little app quality) successful nan Play Store for Android Automotive pinch Google built-in. Until now, developers had to modify their Android apps to tally connected Android Automotive, and that was a problem. Obviously, apps request to behave otherwise erstwhile a conveyance is parked than erstwhile it’s driving. You don’t want a driver to beryllium distracted by a video aliases excessively overmuch matter connected nan infotainment screen.

But those safeguards besides meant other activity for developers, resulting successful less apps (and poorer app quality) successful nan AAOS Play Store. Take Google’s very ain YouTube Music app for example. Until recently, YouTube Music for Android Automotive didn’t supply immoderate measurement for you to prime your preferred YouTube relationship profile. This appears to person been fixed since my gathering pinch Google. I’m judge it’s conscionable a coincidence, but I’ll return it.

Regardless, YouTube Music for AAOS is obscurity adjacent arsenic polished arsenic it is connected your phone. For example, there’s still nary action to disable autoplay, truthful erstwhile your playlist is over, you get immoderate euphony Google picks for you. While apps for illustration Spotify, Audible, PocketCasts, Waze, A Better Route Planner, and PlugShare tin beryllium downloaded from nan Play Store, different apps, for illustration YouTube, are only disposable astatine nan whims of nan OEMs.

In fact, galore celebrated apps are missing from nan Play Store altogether. There’s nary NetFlix to watch videos while charging, and nary Apple Music. Forget messaging and communications apps. You won’t find Gmail, Google Calendar, WhatsApp, aliases Telegram. Ditto societal media. There’s nary Instagram aliases Tiktok here. On nan positive side, you get Chrome (Beta) and Vivaldi for browsing nan web, positive Angry Birds, which is ever fun.

What I learned is that Google is alert of each this, and is making it easier for developers to bring their apps to Android Automotive. Going forward, developers will beryllium capable to take betwixt 3 Android app tiers for AAOS. Car-ready apps require nary changes from developers but only usability erstwhile nan conveyance is parked; car-optimized apps supply further capabilities but request to beryllium modified by developers to support driving and parked modes.

Finally, car-differentiated apps present nan champion imaginable Android Automotive acquisition and accommodate to a assortment of show sizes and shapes. These apps require nan astir customization from developers. While these tiers are decidedly a measurement successful nan correct direction, I’m not convinced they will pull much developers to AAOS. To start, I judge that Google needs to lead by illustration and make much of its ain apps disposable for Android Automotive.

There’s hope

As you tin see, things are messy and analyzable successful nan onshore of Android Automotive. Some car manufacturers are doing it right, others are missing nan mark, and while Google is being hands-off arsenic usual, nan institution is starting to reside immoderate of AAOS’ issues – for illustration nan deficiency of apps. But I besides deliberation Google needs to activity much intimately pinch OEMs to thief them present much refined infotainment experiences. It's been 7 years; it’s time.

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