Google isn’t taking its foot off the accelerator when it comes to connected cars, unveiling a suite of advancements during I/O 2025. Their stated ambition? To foster “a safe, seamless, and helpful connected driving experience.”
With larger displays and more potent processing power becoming the norm in connected cars, opportunities for developers are expanding almost as fast as the tech itself.
Android Auto, Google’s phone-based projection system, has achieved remarkable ubiquity; the company states it is “now supported in nearly all new cars sold, with almost 250 million compatible vehicles on the road.”
Alongside this, vehicles powered by Android Automotive OS (AAOS) with Google built-in are gaining serious traction. “Over 50 models are currently available, with more launching this year,” the company says.
This growth isn’t just about hardware; it’s propped up by an increasingly “thriving app ecosystem, including over 300 apps already available on the Play Store.” Many of these aren’t bespoke creations but are “adaptive mobile apps that have been seamlessly brought to cars through the Car Ready Mobile Apps Program,” offering entertainment when parked and essential tools when on the move.
Ben Sagmoe, a Developer Relations Engineer at Google, said: “This past year, we’ve focused on key areas to help empower developers to build more differentiated experiences in cars across both platforms, as we embark on the Gemini era in cars!”
Gemini AI wants to be your co-driver
Perhaps the most electrifying news for the in-car space is the arrival of Gemini, Google’s sophisticated AI, into vehicles. The potential here is immense. “This unlocks a new era of safe and helpful interactions on the go,” Google proclaimed.
The promise of Gemini lies in its ability to facilitate natural voice conversations and seamless multitasking. The idea is to empower drivers to get more done simply by speaking naturally.
For developers, integrating with Gemini will be key. Navigation apps, for instance, can utilise three core intent formats to start navigation, show relevant search results, or even allow users to report traffic jams using voice commands.
We’re told Gemini for cars will begin its rollout “in the coming months,” so developers should start revving their engines.
Google fuels developer innovation for connected cars
Google isn’t just dropping AI into the dashboard and walking away; they’re also enhancing the toolkit for developers. Building upon the “car app quality tiers” introduced last year, developers are encouraged to aim high.
The “Car ready tier” allows for video, gaming, or browser apps to run in parked cars (with Google built-in) with “almost no additional effort.” For those wanting to create apps that function while driving or transition between parked and driving states, the “Car optimised” and “Car differentiated” tiers offer pathways, making use of the diverse screens available in modern vehicle interiors.
Across both Android Auto and AAOS with Google built-in, the Car App Library has seen some welcome improvements:
- The weather app category is now out of beta. This means any developer can publish their weather apps to production on both platforms, assuming they meet the quality guidelines.
- Designing templated apps just got easier with the newly published Car App Templates Design Kit on Figma.
- Two new templates, SectionedItemTemplate (for custom layouts, pictured left below) and MediaPlaybackTemplate (for media browsing, pictured right), are now available in the Car App Library 1.8 alpha for Android Auto, offering more flexibility for media app creators.
For Android Auto users and developers, a raft of new app categories and capabilities are now entering beta:
- Media apps can now be built using the Car App Library, promising richer experiences more akin to those on a smartphone. During this beta phase, developers can publish to internal and closed testing tracks, with an Early Access Partner programme for those keen to get to production.
- The communications category is also in beta. Google has simplified calling integration using the CallsManager Jetpack API. Combined with Car App Library templates, this allows for features like full message histories, upcoming meeting lists, and richer in-call interfaces. The testing and EAP structure mirrors that for media apps.
- Games are making their debut on Android Auto (while parked, naturally) for phones running Android 15 and above. Popular titles like Angry Birds 2 and Candy Crush Soda Saga are already on board. This category is also in beta, with similar testing and early access routes open to developers.
Developers working with Android Automotive OS (AAOS) connected cars with Google built-in haven’t been forgotten, with improvements to simplify building, testing, and distribution:
- The Games Category is now in Beta for Google Built-In, too. This allows developers to distribute their adaptive games to cars. Furthermore, Google Play Games Services (v2) are now available, bringing seamless login flows and cross-device save states to the car.
- Distribution through Google Play has been made more flexible. Apps in the parked categories can now be distributed using the same APK or App Bundle for both AAOS cars and phones, even via the mobile release track.
- For easier testing, Android Automotive OS on Pixel Tablet is now generally available. This gives developers a physical device option for testing AAOS apps without needing to source an actual car.
What’s around the bend?
Google also signposted exciting updates for connected cars planned for later this year:
- Video apps are set to be supported on Android Auto, starting with phones running Android 16 on compatible cars. For apps already designed to be adaptive, bringing the experience to parked cars will require minimal extra steps.
- For AAOS cars on Android 14+ with Google built-in, Google is working with car manufacturers to broaden app compatibility. The aim is to enable “thousands of adaptive mobile apps in the next phase of the Car Ready Mobile Apps Program.”
- Updated design documentation is in the pipeline, promising to visualise car app quality guidelines and integration paths, which should simplify the design process.
- Google Play Services for AAOS cars are being expanded to bring them closer to mobile parity. This includes Passkeys and Credential Manager APIs for easier user sign-in, and Quick Share for straightforward content sharing from phone to car.
- A new development for AAOS cars with Google built-in is audio-only listening for video apps while driving. Google is working with OEMs on this and has an early access programme for interested developers.
- Firebase Test Lab will soon add Android Automotive OS devices to its roster, allowing testing on actual car hardware without the expense or hassle of acquiring a vehicle. An early access programme is available.
- Finally, Pre-launch reports for Android Automotive OS are on their way to the Play Console, offering developers a valuable tool to ensure app quality before they hit the automotive “showroom.”
It’s clear Google is investing heavily in making the car a more integrated, intelligent, and developer-friendly environment. The introduction of Gemini AI, coupled with these extensive new tools and programme enhancements, signals a clear intent by Google to keep Android at the heart of connected cars.
See also: 5GAA demos lifesaving NTN and V2X tech for connected cars
Want to learn about the IoT from industry leaders? Check out IoT Tech Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Cyber Security & Cloud Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, Intelligent Automation Conference, Edge Computing Expo, and Digital Transformation Week.
Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.
