What Android Auto features are coming next? – 9to5Google
Google is constantly releasing new Android Auto updates, but new features often feel few and far between. What’s on the roadmap? In this post, we’ll break down new features coming to Android Auto.
Timeline: “In the coming months“
Officially confirmed by Google itself, Gemini is on its way to Android Auto.
As Google Assistant fades away, Gemini’s debut has been foreshadowed by code findings and early previews in the software, but it hasn’t arrived just yet. Google announced that Gemini would launch on Android Auto “in the coming months” in mid-May, but it hasn’t gone live just yet, with ever the latest Android Auto versions not yet showing support.
Gemini on Android Auto supports new features such as automatic translation and Gemini Live, which acts as a conversational assistant.
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Timeline: “In the coming months”
Announced at Google I/O, Android Auto media apps are getting some serious upgrades. By dropping some of the tight restrictions, Google will allow developers to do more to customize their media apps on Android Auto, opening the door to new functionality.
Spotify will be among the first to leverage this, with its “Jam” feature coming to cars alongside other changes.
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Timeline: Surely it’s right around the corner
Having first appeared in 2023, Google seems to be still working on a light theme for Android Auto. This new theme would presumably be available alongside the existing dark design. The theme extends through the main UI as well as apps.
Based on the most recent manually-enabled peek, this new theme seems to be nearly ready for release, meaning it might arrive sooner than later.
Some have referred to this as the “Material redesign” of Android Auto. That’s not true. Google implemented (admittedly limited) Material You theming last year. It’s just easier to see on this new light theme.
Google showed off the light theme officially at I/O, but there’s no word yet on a rollout. In Android Auto 14.7, the code shows how users will be able to control the two themes, but sadly, there’s no rollout.
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Timeline: “Soon,” at least by Google’s definition
At Google I/O, the company confirmed that video apps will be coming to Android Auto “soon.” That’s very vague, but we know two things. Firstly, video apps will likely first launch as a beta or pilot program, and Google’s definition of “soon” can mean everything from a few weeks to a year or two. Don’t hold your breath on this one, in other words.
Google has confirmed that video apps on Android Auto will only work while the vehicle is parked.
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Timeline: Any time now, but the bigger question is compatibility
Another feature Google is working on – which we first reported earlier this year – is support for climate controls. Google was building out the feature over the course of a few months and, recently, the buttons were manually enabled to show what it all looks like.
It’s still unclear when this functionality is rolling out (or who even needs it), but the bigger question is how it actually works. Android Auto generally doesn’t have access to your car’s various controls, but climate controls would obviously require pretty deep integration which, as of now, we’re not sure even exists on cars that support Google’s platform. This one is very much in “wait and see” territory.
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Timeline: Unknown
As we first spotted in mid-2024, Google is working on some form of local media and radio controls within Android Auto. Google has been building out these features for seveal months, with hints of controlling FM/AM radio stations, accessing “Local media,” and more.
These features have yet to surface (aka be manually enabled) in any functional manner, but we did spot some icons within the Android Auto app related to the feature.
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Timeline: Unknown
In one of its app updates, code was spotted regarding the addition of new calling apps on Android Auto. Specifcially, the code hints at “external dialer” apps. Information on this feature is incredibly limited, and there’s no word on when it might arrive for Android Auto.
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Timeline: Unknown
Hidden in a recent beta release, Android Auto laid the groundwork for controls over “Alerts” stemming from Maps. This appears to be related to Google Maps incident reporting which, for some, have been more annoying than they are helpful.
The code read as follows:
No progress has been made on this feature as of yet.
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Last updated 7/3/2025
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Android Auto is an extension of the Android plat…
Ben is a Senior Editor for 9to5Google.
Find him on Twitter @NexusBen. Send tips to schoon@9to5g.com or encrypted to benschoon@protonmail.com.
