Integrating platforms and unlocking premium experiences

We’re thrilled to see developers bringing their apps and experiences to Android for cars! Over the past year, we have continued to see strong growth and momentum in the app ecosystem on cars with Android Auto and Google built-in. This year at Google I/O, we’re presenting Update Which benefits both drivers and developers by enabling richer, more differentiated experiences in the car. With new features and templates that allow you to build a bar to reach users across different infotainment screens and car platforms, it’s easier than ever to build it for the road.

What’s new in the Car App Library?

We’re bringing more flexibility, new components, and new template capabilities to the Car app library. Car App Library 1.8.0-beta01 and car app library 1.9.0-alpha01 Now available.

Create templated media apps for both Android Auto and Android Automotive OS

Developers can now create customized, distraction-optimized, media browsing and playback experiences for the Android Automotive OS, making them easier to build and distribute once. templated media apps For more users and more cars.

To help you test experiences on Android Automotive OS, we will be launching updated system images for Android Automotive OS Emulator. Beginning with revision 3, API level 35-ext15 system images will support apps created using Car App Library media templates.

Unlocking developer creativity with Car App Library 1.9.0 Alpha

with 1.9.0-alpha01 Following the release of the Car App Library, we’re rolling out features to help you create more differentiated, expressive experiences in cars with Android Auto and Google built-in.

We’re increasing the modularity of existing templates to give developers more flexibility and options for laying out content. These improvements include expanded headers for better visual emphasis, such as on detail pages, spotlight sections that can be placed in scrollable areas to highlight specific content, and grid item variations to support different content types and positions.

we are introducing new Component And template capabilities help developers create even more engaging experiences. For media apps, we’re introducing an adaptive mini-player, so users can browse while easily managing playback. Finally, we’re adding more component types chip And condensed matter To enhance the ways we display and interact with content.

App developers, including those shown below, have already begun building enhanced media experiences using these new Car App Library features. You can join these developers and prepare to distribute your own media apps built with the Car App Library template by applying to participate with us Early-Access Beta Program.

Amazon Music, Gaana, PocketFM, Spotify, TuneIn, YouTube Music

Deliver your adaptive video apps to more cars with minimal effort

You’ve already created apps, now we’re helping you reach more users. For the first time in Android Auto, users will be able to sit back and watch a video while parked. Apps like YouTube will be able to deliver smooth, 60fps HD video playback. This brings the Android Auto Parked experience more in line with the high-fidelity, immersive experiences users already enjoy in cars with Google built-in.

This capability will begin to be available in compatible vehicles later this year for users with phones running Android 17 and higher. If your video app is already adaptive, it requires minimal effort to make it available for use cases like parked cars. To express interest in making your video app available on Android Auto, fill out this form.

widgets are coming to cars

next generation of android auto brings a more detailed user interface and Contents 3 Expressive The design systems you know from phones in cars are built to seamlessly fill larger screens, no matter what size they are. With this new design, the investments you’ve already made in mobile widgets will be available to Android Auto users this year, and cars with Google built-in will open up new ways to reach and connect with your users later on, while they’re on the road. We’re excited to unlock these new viewable user journeys!

the way forward

You can expect even more updates to come to the cars later this year.

• To provide a more consistent user experience, we’re making it possible for you to provide a templated experience while driving that can seamlessly transition into a native, adaptive app experience when the vehicle is parked.

• New components and conversation templates will be coming to the Car App Library, so you can more seamlessly integrate agentic and voice-based flows into apps.

• Enhanced app brand expression across all car surfaces makes experiences built with the car app library feel easily recognizable by your users.

• Google Maps SDK support is coming to Google built-in cars. With this change, you will be able to use the Google Maps SDK Serve map-based content with MapWithContentTemplate In point-of-interest (POI) and weather apps on both cars with Android Auto and Google built-in.

Stay updated on these features and start building with the latest goo.gle/cars-whats-new.

Check out this announcement and all the Google I/O 2026 updates io.google.