Google releases Android Auto 16.9.1619 beta for download

10 articles · Updated · autoevolution · May 10

The build can be installed via a standalone APK even by users outside the reopened beta programme, without uninstalling the existing app.
Google says the release focuses on under-the-hood changes and bug fixing rather than visible updates, though some recent beta users reported Gemini replacing Google Assistant and a new wavy media progress bar.
The beta adds to signs of a larger Android Auto update later this year, with widgets, weather icons, radio controls and cabin temperature integration all in development, possibly ahead of Google I/O.

With Apple already ahead in AI integration, can Google's Gemini-powered update finally win the war for the car dashboard?

Are Android Auto's new widgets the first step toward making a car's own infotainment system completely obsolete?

As Android Auto prepares to control your car's climate, can it add convenience without creating a dangerous new driver distraction?