Popular Android Auto feature could be making a return after its controversial removal
Published on Sep 20, 2025 at 6:32 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Sep 19, 2025 at 4:20 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
A popular Android Auto feature could be making a return after users called out the ‘horrible’ redesign.
Google released Android Auto more than a decade ago, and it has since amassed millions of users across the globe.
Every so often, Google will tinker with the technology, and sometimes the updates don’t go down well with users.
One recent change appears to be getting rolled back after it was branded ‘horrible’ and a ‘massive disappointment’ by users.
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The popular Android Auto feature appears to be coming back
For the non-Android users out there, Android Auto is a little like Apple CarPlay, but for Android phones.
It allows motorists to mirror the features of their Android smartphone on their car’s infotainment unit, and enables the use of a bunch of apps, including maps, music, and messaging.
Last month, Android Auto introduced a change to how it looks, with a new design that featured a single-color screen rather than the blurred album artwork that it used to show.
The updated design didn’t impact functionality, but it did manage to upset some users.
In a post on Reddit, one person said it was a ‘horrible UI redesign’, and others were quick to agree.
“I thought it was a bug or a setting I’d accidentally changed, but only to find out it’s another horrible UX change by Google,” another person wrote.
“Just change it back and for the love of God, please stop messing with things that aren’t broken and actually fix the things that are!”
“They took a UI that already had too much dead space and made it even worse,” a third person commented.
However, if you’re one of those who hated the redesign, then good news: it seems as though Google has done a U-turn.
In code seen by Android Authority, there’s an option to toggle between the new version and the older artwork style.
As yet, Google hasn’t announced any changes, but the code still being present appears to suggest that users may be able to make a choice in the future.
Carmakers have teamed up to launch Android and Apple rival
BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen have joined forces to create an alternative to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The three carmakers are working alongside eight other industry leaders and have committed to jointly developing an open-source software solution.
The flagship project is S-Core (Safety Open Vehicle Core), and it was launched on June 12 through the Eclipse Foundation.
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With a background in both local and national press in the UK, Claire moved to New Zealand before joining the editorial team at Supercar Blondie in May 2024. As a Senior Content Writer working on New Zealand Standard Time (NZST), Claire was the first writer on the team to make the site’s output a slick 24/7 operation covering the latest in automotive news.
