- GM is adding support for over 200 new apps to its vehicles running on the Cars with Google built-in platform.
- Drivers can access these apps while the car is parked, but front- and rear-seat passengers can play games and watch movies even while the car is cruising.
- The update is rolling out now, and the new apps will automatically appear in Google Play once it lands in your vehicle.
Last year, General Motors stepped away from offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with the aim of advancing toward its own centralized platform based on Google’s “Cars with Google built-in” platform. As such, GM users have been restricted to apps that are built for Android Automotive. That selection is now getting bigger as GM has announced that its cars with Google built-in are gaining support for over 200 new apps. The new apps are available on the driver and passenger displays, as well as on rear displays in select GM cars.
Unlike Android Auto, which simply mirrors your phone’s interface on your car’s display, Android Automotive is a full operating system in itself that runs natively on the vehicle’s hardware. That means apps are downloaded and installed directly on the car, without relying on a connected phone. However, only a small fraction of Google Play Store apps are currently available for Android Automotive, making this expansion particularly significant for GM vehicle owners.
