Car makers will offer Android Auto alongside CarPlay later this year
How will Google’s new ‘Android Auto’ CarPlay competitor compare? On top of opening up the SDK, unlike Apple, to messaging and audio apps, it also has a ton of support right of the bat through the Open Automotive Alliance. Following Google’s unveiling of its new Android Auto connected car platform, a long list of both new and old members of the Open Automotive Alliance have confirmed support for the new feature. Many of which are also confirmed partners for CarPlay and at least some plan to launch both platforms simultaneously in upcoming vehicles. A press release lists a number of new OAA members including Bentley, LG, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Maserati, Volvo and many more. The news also confirms that we’ll see aftermarket solutions for Android Auto from companies like Pioneer, Parrot and Alpine, which are also building aftermarket solutions for CarPlay. Here’s a full list of new OAA companies that will support Android Auto:
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That list doesn’t include founding and old members like Audi, GM, Google, Honda, Hyundai and others. Volvo and Hyundai have now independently confirmed that they will both support the platform. Interestingly, both companies are also confirmed partners of Apple’s competing CarPlay platform.
When it comes to Volvo, the company announced today that it’s joining the Open Automotive Alliance and plans to bring Android Auto to all its cars using a new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) starting with the all-new XC90. That’s notable considering that’s also the first vehicle Volvo will use to introduce Apple’s CarPlay feature later this year. Up until now there was some question about how a platform from Google might co-exist alongside Apple’s platform, but it appear at least some manufacturers plan to offer both of the competing platforms side by side in new vehicles. We’ll have to see if others decide to go Apple or Android only or offer exclusivity windows for either platform. We’ll also have to see if aftermarket solutions– like these ones from Pioneer— pack in support for both features or limit hardware to Android or CarPlay.
Hyundai, another confirmed Apple partner, will also be bringing Android Auto to its in-dash displays alongside CarPlay. Honda, also a confirmed Apple partner, released a similar announcement on Android Auto saying the feature will appear in select vehicles starting in 2015. It noted “Applicable Honda vehicles will be cross-compatible with CarPlay and Android Auto. The vehicle will automatically detect the smart phone OS.”
