Google expands Android Automotive OS beyond infotainment to control core systems in software-defined vehicles

Google announced a new version of Android Automotive OS designed to extend beyond a car's infotainment system and into the non-safety portions of its core computer, covering functions like climate control, lighting, seating, digital key management, and personalized driver profiles. The expansion aims to reduce software fragmentation in the auto industry, where manufacturers currently rely on mismatched modules from dozens of suppliers, with Google promising faster over-the-air updates and lower development costs by providing a common software foundation that lets automakers focus on branding and customer experience. Google is already working with Renault Group and Qualcomm on the software-defined vehicle version, and competes directly with Apple, which rolled out CarPlay Ultra last year to take over similar core vehicle functions on select Aston Martin models.