Bringing a fresh visual look and more intelligence with the next generation of Android in the car

Hey everyone! We just wrapped up our auto-related announcements at The Android Show, and we wanted to give you a quick rundown of what's coming to your dashboards.

Our goal has always been to make every journey more seamless, safe, and connected. With over 250 million Android Auto-compatible cars on the road today, and more than 100 models from 16 brands offering cars with Google built-in, we're building toward that mission for a massive community of drivers. For 2026, we’re bringing a major refresh to the car experience, focusing on a highly adaptable UI, richer entertainment, and deeper Gemini integration.

https://preview.redd.it/h76pocahsq0h1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=fb9ba7f7e248f10e68135a2b1c9b37d39d5af0e9

Here is a recap of everything we announced today:

# 🎨 A full refresh of the Android Auto experience

Android Auto (the version that projects from your phone) is getting a full refresh that brings the fluid and personalized Material 3 Expressive design from your phone to your car, with expressive fonts, smooth animations, and wallpapers that make your dash feel truly personal. And we designed this new experience to adapt seamlessly to any car screen, whether it's an ultrawide rectangle or a circle.

https://preview.redd.it/7elzmfahsq0h1.png?width=2000&format=png&auto=webp&s=3fd954ec1354980577de11920123c311ab3565e9

Alongside the new design, we're also bringing:

Widgets: You can add them to your dash to view information 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.

https://reddit.com/link/1tb8pbp/video/u7hao18lsq0h1/player

Immersive Navigation: This is our biggest Google Maps update in over a decade. The map now features a vivid 3D view reflecting surrounding buildings, overpasses, and terrain. It also highlights critical details like specific lanes, traffic lights, and stop signs to help with tricky turns or merges.

https://reddit.com/link/1tb8pbp/video/f374717msq0h1/player

# 🍿 New premium entertainment options

Thanks to their big, HD screens, premium stereo systems, and comfortable heated seats, modern cars can basically act as your personal movie theater. To take advantage of this hardware, we're upgrading the media experience for when you're parked or charging:

Watch videos in your car: For the first time in Android Auto, you can watch videos on apps like YouTube (at up to 1080p/60fps) in supported cars later this year, starting with BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata and Volvo.
Seamless video-to-audio transitions: When you shift out of park, your video won't just abruptly stop. It will safely and seamlessly transition to audio-only so you can keep listening to your video podcast while driving.

https://reddit.com/link/1tb8pbp/video/lat4o9gnsq0h1/player

Spatial sound with Dolby Atmos: Android Auto will 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.
New UI for media apps: Media apps, including YouTube Music and Spotify, are getting visual tune-ups so they’ll be even easier to use in the car.

https://preview.redd.it/mrp0c8chsq0h1.png?width=1783&format=png&auto=webp&s=1aa691049af3e3dfb47520270981eddf436d3680

# 🧠 Gemini Intelligence on the road

Gemini is now widely available in Android Auto, and if your phone has Gemini Intelligence, you'll be able to access it in Android Auto later this year. This unlocks:

Magic Cue: If a friend texts you asking where to meet, Magic Cue understands the context of the question, pulls the right location from your text messages, calendar, or email, and offers to send them a reply with the right information, all in a single tap without taking your eyes off the road.

https://reddit.com/link/1tb8pbp/video/ve1opi1psq0h1/player