A series of cars set to launch next year will be the first to come with Android Auto. It’s Google’s answer to Apple Car Play, but even before it’s hit the street, there are rumors that the company already has plans to bypass smartphone use and go fully-featured.
Reuters quotes unnamed sources which claim that Google wants to put Android Auto straight into cars without the need for a smartphone. No time frame was specified, though, but it probably won’t take long, since there’s probably additional interest in being the first company to bridge that gap.
The source suggests that through direct integration, the system would have direct access to any and all parameters of the vehicle, from oil temperature to location. It would spare the owner the minor hassle of having to hook up the phone every time he climbs aboard.
The resulting system would need to be good, so that the automakers would willingly adopt it and not stick with a proprietary solution or go with a predictable rival proposition. Apple did, after all, get to launch its system before Google, so they’re most likely planning on a similar move too – check out how it works in the video below.