When we had been purchasing round for our household automotive final 12 months, one of many first issues I put down on my record of must-haves was Android Auto assist. Google’s in-car platform has develop into important for my drive, even when I’m heading down the road to run a fast errand. At CES 2022, Google revealed extra options coming to Android in vehicles, together with extra methods to attach.

One of my points with Android Auto is which you could’t use it wirelessly within the automotive, even with Bluetooth connectivity. Users had found out which third-party dongles to purchase to facilitate this, however a brand new first-party choice from Motorola will probably be a lot simpler to get arrange. The Motorola MA1 prices $90 and can allow you to venture Android Auto wirelessly by a USB port in your automotive.

Select BMW and Ford vehicles will assist Google’s Fast Pair characteristic in Android Auto, making it even simpler to attach.

Google additionally has plans to increase its digital car key to extra vehicles. The digital automotive key permits you to unlock your automotive, begin it up, and even share a digital key with a good friend or member of the family utilizing your Android cellphone. The characteristic launched in choose BMW fashions a couple of month in the past, however Google plans for extra Ultra Wideband-enabled smartphones to have the ability to use the keyless entry.

YouTube within the Car

Google has further plans for its Android Automotive OS platform, constructed into vehicles from Polestar, Volvo, and General Motors. Google says extra producers are anticipated to make use of the platform this 12 months, which affords Google Play constructed immediately into the sprint. Some new apps are coming to it, too, together with offline navigation from Sygic and Flitsmeister, parking apps like SpotHero and ParkWhiz, and charging apps for electrical autos, ChargePoint and PlugShare. Those apps may also be out there to common Android Auto customers.

If you’re already inside a Volvo with Android Automotive OS, you’ll have entry later this 12 months to a YouTube-in-the-car choice. It solely pops up when the automotive is in park, however it’s one other means Google hopes you’ll keep entertained whereas, say, ready to your passenger to do a fast pickup on the drugstore. The concept can be to maintain you from disconnecting your smartphone after which reconnecting it to get again on the highway. And on the very least, there’s the promise of a security characteristic to maintain you from pulling a Tesla.

Volvo drivers may also be the primary to expertise Google’s distant actions within the automotive. You’ll have the ability to ask Google to heat up or quiet down the automobile and lock and unlock it with out getting up and strolling to the storage. And in fact, this will probably be doable by any Google Assistant-enabled machine.