More than ten car models from Volvo, GM, Renault, and Polestar will be assisted by the Android Automotive operating system by the end of the year, along with all of the built in Google software applications. The company is giving an opportunity to the third-party developers to also put their mapping, electric vehicle charging, parking, and media applications straight to a car’s display.
Google’s Android Automotive operating system was released to third-party developers two years earlier, allowing music and other entertainment applications to be integrated into car infotainment systems. The first all-electric vehicle developed by Volvo’s standalone electric performance brand, was the Polestar 2, and then more companies have followed the same trend including the Volvo XC40 Recharge.
At the annual developer conference, Google revealed that Android is making software for Cars App Library, which will support as part of Jetpack, and also the Android Automotive operating system. Developers can now build apps that work on two distinct yet often conflicting platforms. Android OS and Android Auto and it seems to be a great news for them. It also ensures that developers will build a single app that will fit with a variety of car makes and models.
Google announced on Tuesday that it is already collaborating with Early Access Partners such as Parkwhiz, Plugshare, Sygic, ChargePoint, Flitsmeister, SpotHero, and others to introduce applications in these categories to Android Automotive OS-powered vehicles.
Android Automotive OS is not to be confused with Android Auto, while talking about its difference Android Auto which is a subsequent software that rests on top of an operating system. Along with that it’s a smartphone application that connects wirelessly with the vehicle’s infotainment device. In the meantime, Android Automotive OS is based on the open-source Android smartphone operating system, which is based on Linux. Although, rather than running on smartphones and laptops, Google altered it so that manufacturers could use it in their vehicles. For a long time, Google has provided automakers an open source version of this OS.
The Android for Cars App Library has been used by several third-party developers, including Spotify to build and publish Android Auto applications on the Play Store. Developers would only have to build once by expanding the Cars App to the operating system.
