Google upgrades Android Auto with new look at CES 2023

Android owners rejoice: Listening to podcasts in the car is about to get a whole lot easier.

At CES 2023, Google announced that a new version of Android Auto would be launched immediately. The in-car experience, which automatically appears on your vehicle’s interior screen when you connect an Android phone to it, gets a brand new design that should theoretically make life easier for drivers who just can’t get enough of their phones.

First up is the map view, which is now closer to the driver’s seat so that’s the first thing you see when you glance at the screen. There’s also a new quick launcher for frequently used apps, and Google has adopted Material You’s visual design language pixel phones for the overall aesthetic.

Maps are now where they should be.
Credit: Google

You can also make WhatsApp calls with Pixel and Samsung phones.

Oh yes, and perhaps most importantly: There is now a progress bar for songs and podcasts. It seems like a pretty massive oversight that Android Auto didn’t have this yet, but hey, progress is progress. And if you share your car with others, digital key sharing is coming to Samsung and Xiaomi phones this year.

All of this sounds nice and good for those of you who rock Android phones and have to commute by car. Of course, always remember one thing: keep an eye on the road.