Android Auto is about to hit a decade in just two months. It was first shown off at Google I/O 2014, but it didn’t roll out to the public until March 2015. In the last decade, it’s slowly but surely become the best companion for cars. But here’s the kicker. Google might be looking to bring Android Auto to motorcycles too, according to an APK teardown by the folks over at Android Authority.
Android Auto will soon expand to motorcycles, plus some more updates along the way
Ahead of the official release of Android Auto v13.5.150204, Android Authority has caught wind of some clues suggesting the app could be expanding to motorcycles, too. According to the report, Google has swapped out all instances of “Car” in the app’s settings with “Vehicle.” This move points to a broader approach, likely with motorcycles now in the mix, as “vehicle” covers both cars and bikes.
Moreover, the app teardown has uncovered some brand-specific icons, including one for Indian motorcycle maker TVS. It looks like Android Auto might soon support higher-resolution head units, stepping up from its current 1920x1080p video output limit. Evidence points to Google working on enabling 2560x1440p and even 3840x2160p resolutions. While these upgrades aren’t available in the current stable release, they’re expected to roll out in a future update, boosting the app’s compatibility with high-res displays.
Android Authority’s APK teardown reports have a pretty good track record when it comes to predicting features that make it into official releases. A recent example? The publication reported that soon, you’ll be able to control your Samsung TV with your Galaxy Watch even before Samsung even confirmed it. That said, it’s still early days, so it’s a good idea to take this info with a grain of salt.
However, the idea of Android Auto expanding beyond cars to include motorcycles is looking pretty likely. We’ll keep you posted when the rollout happens. For now, let’s hope more motorcycle makers hop on board and we see that update sooner rather than later.
