Cars with Google Built-In: Everything You Need To Know

Google has been working on what was formerly called “Android Automotive” for quite a few years. It’s essentially an operating system that powers the entire infotainment system in your vehicle. However, in 2023, Google decided to rename it “Google Built-in” or “Cars with Google Built-in”. This was a good change since we already had Android Auto, and that was very different from Android Automotive.

In this article, we’re going to go over everything there is to know about Cars with Google Built-In, including vehicles that have the software.

What is Google Built-In?

Google Built-In is essentially the operating system that will run your car’s infotainment system. It runs directly on the in-vehicle hardware. It is a full-stack, open-source, and highly customizable platform that powers the infotainment system. And it supports apps built for Android, and those built for Android Auto.

Google is allowing car makers to customize the skin of Google Built-In that runs on their cars as well, as we’ve seen with GM and Ford recently.

Which means we could see some heavy skins with Google Built-In like we have seen on Android. It’s a way for car makers to differentiate their vehicles from the competitors and also make it blend in better with the car’s interior.

Android Auto vs Android Automotive

Android Auto has been around since 2015. This makes Android Automotive even more confusing; thankfully, it has been renamed to Google Built-In. Here’s a quick explainer between the two.

Android Auto is a platform running on the user’s phone, projecting the Android Auto user experience to a compatible in-vehicle infotainment system over a USB connection. Android Auto supports apps designed for in-vehicle use.
Android Automotive is an operating system and platform running directly on the in-vehicle hardware. It is a full-stack, open-source, highly customizable platform powering the infotainment experience. Android Automotive supports apps built for Android as well as those built for Android Auto.

Essentially, Android Auto is an experience that is powered by your smartphone, while Android Automotive runs natively on the hardware within your car – no smartphone required.

Android Automotive gives users a better experience. As they can just get in the car and start using their streaming service of choice, Google Maps, and even make phone calls, without having to plug in their phone. That might sound like a minor thing, but it can make a big difference. Of course, you can do this with Wireless Android Auto, but Android Automotive will not use up your phone’s battery life, which is really nice.

What is Google Automotive Services?

Even though Google doesn’t talk about it, you’ve likely heard about Google Mobile Services. This is basically the license that smartphone OEMs can apply for, to be able to run Google services on their phone. You’ve probably heard a lot more about GMS since the whole Huawei fiasco, and it losing access to GMS since President Trump banned them from working with US companies.

Well, Google Automotive Services or GAS, is essentially the same thing. As Google puts it “is a collection of applications and services that automotive OEMs can choose to license and integrate into their in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems.

Basically, if a car is using Google Built-In, it is in their best interest to license GAS, which will make their user experience even better. As GAS does include every Google service out there. That includes Google Assistant, YouTube Music, Google Maps, and much more, including the underlying Google Play Services.

Are apps available in the Google Play Store?

As mentioned before, Goole Built-In works with Android and Android Auto apps, which means that apps for Goole Built-In are available within the Google Play Store, including apps to control the temperature of your car. In fact, Polestar’s app for climate control is available in the Play Store (though you’ll only see it if you have a Polestar 2 on your Google account). But, not all Android Auto apps are available for Goole Built-In. Currently, the list of Goole Built-In apps is pretty short.

This opens up a lot of possibilities, as Polestar (and other car makers) could also opt to really change up the interface of the car. Or add additional modes. As all it takes is a simple app update. It’s pretty similar to what Motorola was doing almost a decade ago, where it pushed a lot of its system apps to the Play Store and updated them that way, instead of through a system update.

It’s a pretty interesting way to improve your infotainment experience, but this means that you could choose between different navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze, for example. Of course, this is just the early days of Goole Built-In, so this could change vastly in the coming years.

What apps are available, and what do they look like?

Like with Android Auto, apps on Google Built-In are forced to stick within strict design guidelines. And the point in this is so that you don’t spend a ton of time looking at the screen while you are driving. So the apps look similar to how they would in Android Auto, but perhaps in a different aspect ratio. That means bigger touch targets, which makes it easier to use while driving.

However, with Goole Built-In, app developers do get a bit more leeway in how they can design their apps. Spotify, for example, looks sort of like how it does on the desktop. But with a larger DPI, of course.

There are still design guidelines for Goole Built-In, but they aren’t as strict. As we’ve seen with Polestar and Hummer so far, companies don’t need to stick with material design for Goole Built-In. Though when it comes to media apps, the touch targets will mostly be in the same area, across different apps. So you can use muscle memory to change songs and such without having to look at the display for long.

Then there are sign-ins. That’s still something that Google, developers and car makers need to address. Signing in on the screen in your car isn’t particularly user-friendly. Though, a screen like the Polestar 2 has, is a lot easier. As it is a larger portrait orientation screen.

Car makers are also releasing their own apps to find chargers, particularly for electric and hybrid vehicles, which is going to be a lot easier to use, then to pull out your phone and open the PlugShare app to find where you can charge your Polestar 2. These are apps that are needed for newer cars, which are also electric.

Video apps & Chromecast

Google announced at Google I/O 2022 that it was bringing video apps over to Goole Built-In. This is after it had already announced that YouTube was coming. Some other names it threw out included EPIX NOW and Tubi TV. So you can watch videos while you’re stopped and charging.

Additionally, Chromecast is coming, which will allow you to Cast basically any video to your screen in your vehicle. But only while you are parked, for obvious safety reasons.

Do I need to login to use my car?

Google is going to want you to sign in, and of course that will make it easier to download and use apps. But it is not required. But we would highly suggest you do, as the Goole Built-In software can bring in cloud preferences and user customization from your account.

Notably, offline Goole Built-In should work pretty much the same as it does when you are logged in. All of the vehicle apps will work. Meaning you don’t need to sign into your Google account to change the temperature on your AC.

So why is Google making Goole Built-In usable without an account? China. Countries like China where Google services are not available, need to be able to use these cars too. And in China, it would be pretty much impossible to use. But they can still use apps like WeChat, QQ Music and Baidu Maps. Though it will be interesting to see how the Polestar 2 would look in China.

What vehicles support Goole Built-In?

Currently, there are a number of cars that have Google Built-In available. From brands including Polestar, Volvo, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Renault, Honda and Nissan. With more coming on board later this year. Google has already announced that Ford Lincoln and Buick will have vehicles with Google Built-in coming soon.

These are the current cars that have Android Automotive built-in:

Acura ZDX (2024+)
Cadillac Celestiq
Cadillac CT5 (2025+)
Cadillac Escalade IQ
Cadillac Lyriq^[25]
Cadillac XT4 (2024+)
Chevrolet Colorado (2023+)
Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
Chevrolet Equinox (2025+)
Chevrolet Equinox EV
Chevrolet Silverado (2022+)
Chevrolet Silverado EV
Chevrolet Suburban (2022+)
Chevrolet Tahoe (2022+)
Chevrolet Traverse (2024+)
Ford Explorer (2025+)
GMC Canyon (2023+)
GMC Hummer EV
GMC Sierra (2022+)
GMC Yukon (2022+)
Honda Accord (2023+)
Honda Prologue (2024+)
Lincoln Aviator (2025+)
Lincoln Nautilus (2024+)
Nissan Interstar (2024+)
Nissan Rogue (2024+)
Polestar 2
Polestar 3
Polestar 4
Polestar 5
Renault 5 E-Tech
Renault Austral
Renault Espace (2024+)
Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric[27]
Renault Master (2024+)
Renault Rafale
Renault Scénic E-Tech (2025+)
Volvo C40
Volvo EX30
Volvo EX90
Volvo S60 (2023+)
Volvo S90 (2022+)
Volvo V60, V60 Cross Country (2023+)
Volvo V90, V90 Cross Country (2022+)
Volvo XC40 (excluding T2 engine model) (2023+)
Volvo XC40 Recharge (only BEV version)
Volvo XC60 (2022+)
Volvo XC90 (2023+)

Why would a car maker use Goole Built-In over their own system?

A big question with Goole Built-In is, why would a car maker like Toyota want to use it over its own system? As you might have noticed, Toyota has not jumped on board yet. However, they were pretty slow in adopting Android Auto too.

And that’s what Google has been trying to talk car makers into doing. Allowing them, a software company, to build the software for their vehicles. Which also means that they will get tighter integration into Google services like Google Maps, Google Assistant, and others. Which is much better than, say, Ford’s built-in navigation and voice commands. Which is why vehicle makers are starting to jump on board with Google pretty quickly.

How does Goole Built-In benefit the user?

The biggest benefit is, this is going to be software you are already familiar with. Mainly if you use Android. Instead of some cumbersome software that the manufacturer threw together, which is typically pretty terrible.

It’s also going to bring all of your favorite apps to your vehicle, without having to plug in your phone to use them like Spotify, Google Maps, Waze, Google Assistant, and much more. Imagine being able to ask the Google Assistant to turn down the AC in your Hummer EV. That will be possible thanks to Goole Built-In, which is huge.

But the biggest benefit is definitely the usable software. We’ve all used the software from companies like Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota and others, and know just how bad it really is. And Google will change that with Goole Built-In here.

Will my next vehicle have Goole Built-In?

Most likely. Even though the automotive space does move pretty slowly, your next car will most likely have Goole Built-In unless you are buying a new car this month.

Where Google has Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Chevy, Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Volvo all on-board already for Goole Built-In. It’s very likely that your next vehicle is going to sport it. And as an Android user, that’s going to make for an exciting drive.