Who says the dashboard can’t be smarter than your smartphone? asks Google. Google has issued its last update for the year for Android Auto, version 15.9, and although it’s a bit thin on the exciting features, it’s a precursor for the biggest overhaul Android Auto has experienced in years.
The update is also going to be distributed to the devices via the Google Play Store, and this time around, the distribution is going to be staggered, with only a handful of devices receiving the update. For those who cannot wait for the update, the APK can be downloaded, and the new version overrides all the previous files without having to uninstall the latest one. Google has also not opted to test the new version through the beta program, and this time around, the new version seems to be stable enough to be used by the production models. Despite the lack of information regarding the features, the new version includes some tweaks to the inner workings to cut down the occurrence of connectivity issues.
The real fun is in what’s to come. Android Auto is set to bring back widgets, which went MIA after their Coolwalk design overhaul in 2019. Although in their original form, these widgets featured nothing but a weather forecast in rather diminutive status bar widgets. Google is now trialing their design layout, cramping these widgets right beside their core design experience, thereby functioning exactly like Android smartphone home screens. The design does away with Apple’s display layout for CarPlay in being in its own separate screen, which does not exactly play friendly in displays smaller than their 9-inch variants in both iPhones and Android phones. Now featuring are calendar and weather widgets, soon to follow will be other apps.
The UI changes do not end there, either. The presence of code strings related to Android Auto 15.9 points to improvements in a Material 3 Expressive theme for the media player with a new and improved progress bar and control buttons. This fits right into Google’s efforts to provide a consistent and up-to-date design language across platforms. It has also become apparent that Google Cast support might be included in Android Auto, which has the capacity to stream media content from other devices, a feature already included in Android Automotive OS and one which could be revolutionary in-vehicle entertainment systems with video support expected next.
The biggest change, however, is the incorporation of Gemini AI, Google’s new generative assistant set to replace Google Assistant on all platforms in 2026. Gemini offers advanced conversation features, enabling users to talk normally without repeating any kind of wake word. It will be able to display addresses directly from Gmail, show restaurant analysis based on Google Maps feedback, let users modify and send messages, allow translation in over 40 languages, and produce a playlist directly all without using their hands. As far as navigation is concerned, Gemini improves hazard reporting, where one can say what he sees, and Gemini will correctly mark it on either Google Maps or Waze. It will provide landmark turns for better navigation, where one can rely on signs such as traffic lights or fueling stations.
In the case of Gemini, the rollout is server-side, which means that having the latest version, Android Auto 15.9, installed doesn’t necessarily mean it’s available for use. The first users have had varied experiences, with some being greeted with helpful notifications that turn the feature on while others have experienced some misunderstandings, including attempting to dial a number instead of sending a text messages when the phone is docked and connected to the infotainment system. “Our automotive products are designed and built on safety principles grounded in government and industry distraction guidelines, as well as our own deep research,” explained Greg Fitch, the head of safety and user experience for Android for Cars.
Once the rollout is complete, Gemini will be supported in 45 languages on a possible total of 250 million Android Auto-equipped vehicles. Gemini would also be compatible with the Android Automotive OS, which comes pre-installed on some vehicles from companies such as Lincoln, Honda, Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Acura, Volvo, and others. This would ensure that the functions of Gemini, extending from handling Google Calendar to controlling other compatible apps, would be available to the users irrespective of the platform they choose to access the car’s infotainment systems.
Now with the release of Android Auto 15.9, Google is behind the scenes laying the blueprint for a 2026 that will be defined by enhanced customization options within the user interface, seamless connectivity between devices and widgets, and AI-powered assistance while on the road that will erase any distinctions between smartphones and car systems. For automobile and technology lovers, the future of upgrades holds not only improvements but a paradigm shift in how car systems should react to the human element.
