You can now add Volkswagen to the list of car makers supporting Android Auto. Yesterday, the company announced Android Auto would be making it to a few of their 2016 models, and actually a few will be available in the next few days. To be more specific, Volkswagen announced their new infotainment system, which has support for both Apple’s CarPlay and Android Auto. The first car with Android Auto will be the Golf R, and it has already started making it to their showrooms. Their new infotainment system is known as Car-Net, and has support for MirrorLink in addition to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
“With the new MIB II infotainment platform, Volkswagen’s next generation of Car-Net connected services brings to market one of the most comprehensive suites of connectivity features ever available in an automobile,” said Michael Horn, president and CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “As the people’s car brand, we knew that it was important to democratize these technologies across the Volkswagen line-up, with features like App-Connect ensuring that more consumers can integrate their smart devices in a wide range of trims on virtually every model the company sells.”
Volkswagen is also saying that following the Golf R, you should see both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay make their way into all of the remaining models they offer. However, the company did state that there are two models that likely won’t be getting either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay and that’s the Eos and Touareg.
It appears that Android Auto works pretty much the same as it does in any other car right now. Which is exactly what Google wanted. To give users the same experience no matter what car they are driving. Volkswagen joins the ranks of Hyundai, Honda, Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC in offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay right now. Audi has announced support for both, but haven’t announced when it’ll be available, as well as what models will have the capability. It’s great to see more and more car makers adopting Android Auto these days. So drivers won’t need to choose a car with Android Auto, hopefully everyone adds it.