But really be careful how much Android you're talking about. There are some brands really using Google's automotive services; this is not our strategy. When you do this, you get a great package of function and services, no doubt. But you also have to open up all the car's sensor data [to Google], and when I say all, it really is all sensor data," Senger told me.
(statement from Christian Senger, mentioned by Ars as being VW Group's Digital Car and Services division)
I think you may be confusing Android Auto with Android for Cars. The former is the mobile app and headunit-only integration (audio controls) via video stream, which requires minimal integration with the vehicle. The other is Android repurposed for headunits, with full car integration, such as Volvo's integration.
Car manufacturers of luxury cars shy away from Android Auto partially because they believe it turns one of their main selling points and silos (advanced technology) into yet another commodity.
Thx for the definitions - useful/interesting (but I did not doublecheck them, hehe) :)
> which requires minimal integration with the vehicle
My guess: maybe VW is scared of a potential "which CURRENTLY requires minimal integration with the vehicle" (I imagine that the push for more and more integration will increase in the future) and therefore decided to give it a try now and not to become passively dependent on Google.
Because Audi views themselves as a performance brand over a luxury brand. They're also hungrier and thus more responsive to consumer demand.
BMW allows carplay with a monthly subscription to the rest of their services, largely because they believe that as long as you're getting the full benefit of a connected car, you'll be attached to the value - strategically, it makes no sense for them to give it away from free.
The other thing? These companies are starting to change their mind as consumers demand it as a feature.
I always knew there were good reasons I prefer Audi.
Although to be honest, if not for the unconscionable amount of money they (or Navteq, I guess) asks for map updates, I'd be even happier just using the built-in navigation all the time.
It's really baffling. The CarPlay experience in our Volkswagen is so good I cannot imagine ever going back to an automaker's in-house system. Even the ones in the luxury cars I've had -- BMW, Mercedes -- have been absolute crap compared to CarPlay.
I have used and liked CarPlay and was put off by tesl not having it... until I tried Tesla’s. CarPlay is essential for routing around the horrible crap put out by most carmakers but the Tesla ui is awesome. It’s big, it’s fast, and it’s 100% focused on automotive use. I’d still like the option, but I can’t say I miss it.
I'm picking you to reply to, but several people noted they like the Tesla UI -- but none of the people I know IRL do. That's interesting.
What Tesla does is kind of irrelevant to us, though, since we're a 1-car family, and need to retain the ability to take long trips in areas with poor charger concentration. IOW, if we had 2 cars, one could definitely be a Tesla, but we don't need 2 cars.
Though I wouldn't mind CarPlay in my Model 3, the custom system Tesla has is just as good, or better than it. It is generations ahead of anything built into other vehicles, even luxury ones.
I also LOVE CarPlay, however I'm baffled as to why more manufacturers don't equip the wireless CarPlay option. I have it in my daily driver, and it's so nice to be able to leave my phone in my pocket, or toss it on the wireless charging mat, and still have CarPlay work perfectly. But my brand new truck only has the wired option:(
That sounds cool, but I also find that for any drive over 10-15 minutes, it's probably a good time to top off the battery, and so the tethering doesn't bother me.
I can second this. I've used both CarPlay and Android Auto in my Golf R, and compared to a few rentals I've driven recently its amazing how much better VW is at this.
Beyond just the normal controls (which can sometimes be hit or miss once you're in CarPlay/AndroidAuto mode) the extra little functionalities you notice are amazing. A good example is when using Google Maps I can zoom in/out by just pinching the touchscreen in the car, or I can use the physical dial (normally for changing radio stations) to control the zoom level, or scroll through selections. If you change contexts, what the physical dial control change along with them, and its really slick once you get used to it.
I didn't know until I saw it in my ex-sister-in-law's Alfa, but apparently there ARE CarPlay implementations that don't have touchscreens. That makes it much less easy, though still better than any automaker's.
I suggest you actually try the Tesla UI. It puts every other automaker's system to utter shame so you shouldn't be lumping it in with the others. It's at the level of CarPlay, if not better.
My S.O. has CarPlay in her Audi and while it is definitely superior to the built-in UI (this to me says more about how bad those UI’s are to begin with!), it is a shitshow compared to the UI of my Tesla.
Simple examples:
1) If you accidentally tell the car or the phone not to use CarPlay for a particular phone, there is no obvious way to get it to ask again
2) If you are connected to the same phone via Bluetooth AND CarPlay’s USB connection (...why does it even permit this to begin with??)... Wonkiness results
3) My S.O. refuses to use Waze on it because Waze’s own notifications overlay/BLOCK important elements of its own nav and are not trivially dismissed (do they even test these things??)
These are just off the top of my head in an Audi, hardly a run-of-the-mill car.
Try a Tesla’s UI for a while, and CarPlay will seem like garbage. It becomes very clear why they didn’t go with it. I only wish it had Waze on it, and then I could get rid of my phone mount.
I'd prefer to use Tesla's software before any Google/Apple integrations any day. Simplistic UI, no botching of privacy/restrictions within eco-systems among other reasons to only support Tesla.
I think CarPlay runs basically entirely on the phone and the car manufacturers just add a feature to their existing software to show the pixels coming from the phone.
Other car manufactures have tried avoiding those two because they want to maintain control over their ecosystem. Read up on how Toyota failed at this with their special infotainment Linux OS.
Android Auto isn't all it's cracked up to be. I'm sure they can feel they can do better. I installed Android Auto in my 4runner a few years back and it definitely improved my 4runner experience, but I'm generally happy with my Tesla setup. I'd say the only thing missing from Tesla is Google Assistant integration. Everything else is meh.
Straightforward they have no interest in losing control of the software running. I think the idea is that the product will continue to work even after smartphones. Also they were a bit miffed with Apple a while back.
But yeah no nothing to do with data rights on Apple’s end, google does want more data though.
Perhaps to capture both iOS and android users. On an aside isn’t it just silly that you, your partner and car Choice have to coordinate Android / google
Android Auto is very underwhelming. I don't even bother, since it requires you to plug in your phone via USB. After having a wireless charger in the car and at home, I never want to have to mess with a cord again.
Wireless android auto/carplay are shipping on certain luxury vehicles as well now, I look forward to that feature moving downmarket.
It was very pricey but I got a ProClip mount for my phone. Phone slots right in, automatically starts charging and Android Auto loads right up.
AA/Carplay will win in the long term, simply due to the fact that there's a larger market and app makers can publish their own apps. In other words, I can use Pocket Casts in my Chevy Volt, but need to use a phone screen + bluetooth audio in my Tesla.
That's funny, I didn't realize Android Auto wouldn't work in a Tesla, and now I am very hesitant to buy one. It works perfectly on my wife's car, I can use whatever apps I want (eg. PocketCasts, Spotify, Plex) and the integration with the other aspects of the car is seamless. Teslas are just now getting Spotify?!?! That's exactly the sort of thing I would expect with an in-house system, and exactly why I would want to avoid it. What about navigation? Are you beholden to whatever Tesla provides, or can you use Waze and Google Maps if you want?
I guess I would end up using my phone over Bluetooth, negating much of the benefit the large touchscreen in the Tesla provides, ending up fiddling with my phone to change songs etc.
People are going to point out the privacy issues inherent in using Android, and I understand the complaint, but Google already knows my speed and location at all times anyway just by virtue of having my phone on me. I don't think Android Auto would have any interaction with the cameras or sensors, since most other cars do not have them, but perhaps others can speak to this.
Regardless, this has really diminished my interest in getting a Tesla.
No it's Google Maps for both navigation directions and map data. There are some features from the Android google maps app not supported on the Tesla, but otherwise it's the same.
That would be false. They might have moved to osm recently, but Tesla’s basemap has been TomTom since ‘17. Google data might have been used for POI, but never for basemap or navigation.
It’s actually a perfectly fine reason to rule out a car. Some people prioritize the niceties of a car over other features. At this point any car without CarPlay (or a replaceable heady it) is a non-starter for me as well. To each their own.
I have a long commute, the only thing that makes it bearable is choosing the content I listen to. The app makes a difference here - PocketCasts and Spotify have features that others don't - so I do want to use their native interfaces. The apps I use in the car have great Android Auto interfaces which simplify content selection. Using Android Auto also integrates with the other features on the phone, such as phone calls, calendar reminders, "OK Google", and maps. This essentially defines my entire driving experience at the moment.
If Tesla's interface doesn't support an app that I want to use (eg. Spotify) then I would have to resort to using the phone over Bluetooth. I wouldn't just say "oh well, I spent $50k on this car but it doesn't support PocketCasts so I guess I'll listen to something else for the next hour" every day. This makes the big touchscreen rather useless, and is going to be more dangerous than my current car because I will be fiddling with the phone.
Maybe I'll just get a big suction cup and mount my phone right on top of the touchscreen, using Android Auto on the phone itself over Bluetooth.
There are people talking about how being able to watch Netflix, integrate Spotify into their Tesla make it a "joyous" experience to own, and that's valid, but saying that "lack of Apple CarPlay" is a negative against the car is a "bad" opinion?
Sure they support it. But you have to have a head unit that supports it. Only BMW/Mini and Audi offers wireless CarPlay, and only aftermarket head units support Android.
