Bring your app to vehicles running either Android Auto or Android Automotive OS. Use one app architecture that works for both cases so every user can enjoy your app.
Android Auto
Android Auto provides a driver-optimized app experience for users who have an Android phone with the Android Auto app and a compatible car or aftermarket stereo system. They can use your app directly on their car's display by connecting their phone. You enable Android Auto to connect with your phone app by creating services that Android Auto uses to display a driver-optimized interface to the driver.
Figure 1. Android Auto—powered by a phone and running on a car.
Android Automotive OS
Android Automotive OS is an Android-based infotainment system that is built into vehicles. The car's system is a standalone Android-powered device that is optimized for driving. With Android Automotive OS, users install your app directly onto the car instead of their phones.
Figure 2. Android Automotive OS running on an emulator.
Supported app categories
Due to considerations unique to cars, Android Auto and Android Automotive OS only support certain types of apps as described in the following table:
| Category | Description | Platforms | Usage | Publishing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media - audio |
Media apps let users browse and play music, radio, audiobooks, and other audio content in the car. See Build media apps for cars for more information. Important: the Media category does not include video content - see the separate Video category for details on apps that play videos.
Built using: |
Android Auto and Android Automotive OS | While driving or parked | All track types |
| Messaging |
Messaging apps let users receive incoming notifications, read messages aloud using text-to-speech, and send replies using voice input in the car. See Build messaging apps for Android Auto for more information.
Built using: |
Android Auto | While driving or parked | All track types |
| Navigation |
Navigation apps, including providers of driver and delivery services, help users get where they want to go by providing turn-by-turn directions. Built using: The Android for Cars App Library. See Build a navigation app for additional information specific to navigation apps. |
Android Auto and Android Automotive OS | While driving or parked | All track types |
| Point of Interest (POI) |
POI apps let the user discover and navigate to points of interest and take relevant actions, such as parking, charging, and fuel apps. Built using: The Android for Cars App Library. See Build a point of interest app for additional information specific to POI apps. |
Android Auto and Android Automotive OS | While driving or parked | All track types |
| Internet of Things (IOT) |
IOT apps let users take relevant actions on connected devices from within the car. Examples include controlling the state of certain devices, such as opening a garage door, flipping home light switches, or enabling home security. Built using: The Android for Cars App Library. See Build an internet of things app for additional information specific to IOT apps. |
Android Auto and Android Automotive OS | While driving or parked | All track types |
| Video |
Video apps let users view streaming videos while the car is parked. The core purpose of these apps is to display streaming videos. Built using: Views and/or Compose. See Build video apps for Android Automotive OS for more information. |
Android Automotive OS | Only while parked | Internal, Closed, and Open Testing tracks |
| Games |
Game apps let users play games while the car is parked. The core purpose of these apps is to play games. Built using: Views and/or Compose. See Build games for Android Automotive OS for more information. |
Android Automotive OS | Only while parked | Internal Testing tracks |
| Browsers |
Browser apps let users access web pages while the car is parked. Built using: Views and/or Compose. See Build browsers for Android Automotive OS for more information. |
Android Automotive OS | Only while parked | Internal Testing tracks |
Additional resources
To learn more about Android for Cars, see the following additional resources.