Wireless Android Auto Comes To More OEMs; Car Key On Pixel & Galaxy Smartphones

Google has just come to an end its annual developed conference called Google IO — it is the stage where it updates its computing platforms and services — including Android which now hits version 12. As a subset of Android 12, the latest version of Android Auto has also received some interesting updates. 

Google said that there are already more than 100 million vehicles in the world that are running Android Auto. While the number is quite huge, but Google also declared globally now there are 3 billion Android  devices. When put into context, Google has some way to go to make Android for cars as ubiquitous as phones. 

One of the key features of Android Auto that many users have been yearning for is a fully wireless connection which doesn’t need the phone to be tethered to the car with a cable. Till now this has been a feature restricted to premium vehicles mostly, but Google is promising improvements to the situation. 

“A vast majority of Ford, GM and Honda will support Android Auto Wireless, ” said Sameer Samat, Google’s Vice President for Android and Google Play. 
 
In the keynote, Google highlighted 15 OEM partners, including GM brands Dodge, Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac, VW groups brands like the core VW brand, Audi, Seat and Skoda and Stellantis brands – Jeep, Chrysler and Renault. It also included BMW, Ford and Honda.