According to the Android Twitter account, Android Auto is now available in 18 new countries beginning today. Prior to today, the service was available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. Today, that list has added Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Switzerland, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Russia, Uruguay, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Now this isn’t everywhere that Android is available in – at least proper Android with Google services – so there’s still more countries that need to be added. But definitely nice to see the service heading to more and more countries.
Seeing more countries being added to the list of support is great to see. It shows that Google is serious about Android Auto and that the platform is continuing to grow. We have a number of third-party head units available for Android Auto already – around 6 from Pioneer, 4 from Kenwood and 1 from JBL – which allow you to get Android Auto in your car without needing to buy a brand new car. We’ve also seen many car makers bringing Android Auto to their models, including Audi, Acura, Chevy, Buick, GMC, Ford, Chrysler, Volvo, Volkswagen and many others. There are still many others on the way, as they are part of the Open Automotive Alliance and are working with Google to bring Android Auto to their cars.
For the uninitiated, Android Auto basically works like plugging in a laptop to a monitor. The majority of the OS runs from your phone (in some cases, it will use the car’s GPS system), and basically mirrors it onto the display in the car. Many car makers have opted for a touch screen – which is usually already in their models – for Android Auto, however Audi has opted to keep their current system, which uses a trackpad and rotary dial to interact with the display. Android Auto has been publicly available for a little over a year, and there are already many cars and head units available, with plenty more to come.
If you’re in one of the 18 new countries, you should be able to download the Android Auto app from the Play Store and use it in your car, as long as you have an Android Auto supported vehicle or head unit in the car.