Android Automotive Development

There are two car platforms. Android Auto projects your phone app onto the car's display. Android Automotive OS is Android running on the car itself, with apps installed directly. The same app architecture can target both.

Two platforms, shared app models

Supported app categories

Supported categories expand over time, so check the official overview before planning.

Media apps with Media3

class PlaybackService : MediaLibraryService() {
    private var session: MediaLibrarySession? = null

    override fun onCreate() {
        super.onCreate()
        val player = ExoPlayer.Builder(this).build()
        session = MediaLibrarySession.Builder(this, player, LibraryCallback()).build()
    }

    override fun onGetSession(controllerInfo: MediaSession.ControllerInfo) = session

    override fun onDestroy() {
        session?.run { player.release(); release() }
        session = null
        super.onDestroy()
    }
}
// LibraryCallback returns the browsable tree: root → categories → playable items.

The same service powers your phone notification, Wear OS, Android Auto and Automotive OS media UIs.

Car App Library templates

class ChargersScreen(carContext: CarContext) : Screen(carContext) {
    override fun onGetTemplate(): Template {
        val list = ItemList.Builder()
            .addItem(Row.Builder().setTitle("Station A").addText("2 km · 4 free").build())
            .addItem(Row.Builder().setTitle("Station B").addText("5 km · 1 free").build())
            .build()
        return ListTemplate.Builder()
            .setTitle("Nearby chargers")
            .setSingleList(list)
            .build()
    }
}
// Declared via a CarAppService with a category in the manifest.

Templates enforce limits on list length, text and steps while driving. These limits are part of driver distraction safeguards.

Driver distraction and quality

• Follow the car app quality guidelines. Apps are reviewed against them.
• Keep tasks short, minimise text, and support voice where possible.
• Don't show video or complex UI while driving.

Testing

• Android Auto: the Desktop Head Unit (DHU) simulates the car screen on your computer.
• Android Automotive OS: Automotive emulator system images in Android Studio.
• Test day and night modes, different screen sizes, and touch vs rotary input.

Use cases

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

Car apps supply content and actions: media through Media3, messaging through notifications, and other categories through Car App Library templates, with driver safety guidelines and DHU and emulator testing.

Next step: adapt to big screens with Large Screens and Foldables.