Google’s Android Auto platform provides a way to safely interact with Android apps in your car, so you can use music, navigate with Google Maps, and more. But up until now the only way to use Android Auto has been to buy a car that comes with the feature, or buy a third-party head unit that you could install in your car.
Soon you’ll be able to use Android Auto in any car, because all you’ll need is an Android smartphone.
Android Auto is basically a stripped-down Android environment that allows you to navigate, listen to music, or make calls using your voice, while displaying content in large fonts, making it easy to get the information you need by quickly glancing at the screen so you can get your eyes back on the road as soon as possible.
When you use Android Auto on a phone, your handset will connect to your car stereo over Bluetooth and show a simplified user interface with large buttons for back and home functions and an icon to tap for voice controls, although in the future you should be able to start a voice action just by saying “OK Google.”