- The Android Automotive 16 update introduces several subtle UI changes to the home screen, launcher, and notification panel.
- Key adjustments include a redesigned volume panel, a taller media card, a new voice assistant button, and a more legible app grid.
- The update also adds a toggle for Ultra-Wideband (UWB), a key component of Android’s digital car key feature.
Just like with Android on phones and tablets, Google pushes out yearly updates to its OS for cars, Android Automotive OS (AAOS). Unlike on mobile devices, these updates are typically smaller in scope; for safety, the in-car platform is intentionally more limited. While the upcoming Android Automotive 16 update won’t be as feature-packed as Android 16 for phones, it still introduces several subtle UI changes to the home screen, launcher, and notification panel, as well as makes it easier to launch the digital assistant.
Before we dive in, it’s important to clarify a few things. First, Android Automotive OS isn’t the same as Android Auto. Android Auto is an interface projected to your car’s infotainment screen from your phone, while AAOS is the native operating system that runs directly on the car’s hardware. Second, because AAOS is open-source, automakers can customize it heavily. The changes we’re highlighting are from the baseline version of the OS, meaning the final UI in your vehicle may look different. Even cars marketed with “Google built-in” aren’t guaranteed to adopt these specific changes, as that branding primarily refers to the inclusion of Google’s apps.