In short: According to a report, Jaguar and Land Rover are going to be adding Android Auto (as well as Apple CarPlay) to all of its 2019 models that have the InControl Touch Pro or Touch Pro Duo infotainment systems. Jaguar and Land Rover will also be updating its older vehicles with those infotainment systems with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. This is a big deal for Jaguar and Land Rover owners, as they have been some of the few brands that have been holding out on bringing either platform to their drivers. Both platforms will be available with an optional smartphone connectivity package, that is going to start at $280. It will increase depending on the vehicle model. Currently, there’s no set date for when these updates will roll out, but apparently, they are rolling out in the UK already.
Background: This news comes just a few days after Toyota had finally decided to bring Android Auto to its vehicles – though it was pretty mum on which models would get support, and when. While many car makers are already on-board with Android Auto, there are still a few brands that are not on-board. Though, it’s not a huge surprise to see Land Rover getting Android Auto support finally, seeing as Google had been working with Land Rover on its embedded Android system for its vehicles. And the reason why Google used Land Rover was for its longer screen, compared to the usual square screen that most vehicles have.
Impact: This means that more and more people are going to be able to use Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay in their vehicles. There’s no word just yet on whether Jaguar and Land Rover will be using wireless Android Auto or not, but it is pretty likely that it won’t. Especially since it is updating its older vehicles with support as well.