Polestar 2 is Adding Wired Android Auto Support, One of the “Most Requested Features”

Polestar is a kind of automotive corporations that made an enormous dedication to Android Automotive early on as a probably improved in-car infotainment answer over one thing they might develop in home. That selection has had positives and in addition some negatives as their implementation of Android Automative has loads of limitations. Whereas a few of that’s arguably as a result of low-end specs powering the system, the complaints have been heard by Polestar and they’re prepared to offer Polestar 2 house owners a brand new choice – Android Auto.

Yeah, that’s complicated to learn and I get it. The automotive runs Android Automotive (AAOS), so why wouldn’t it want Android Auto? Properly, they aren’t the identical factor, that’s for positive. Android Automotive is sort of a base working system for vehicles to run that may be personalized (like One UI over Android on Samsung telephones) to look native to a automotive firm. Android Auto is the wired or wi-fi projection expertise you obtain from a related cellphone to a automotive. Once more, these are very totally different in-car options as a result of one is personalized by a automotive firm for particular vehicles whereas the opposite is Google’s imaginative and prescient for the way an in-car projected expertise ought to look and work. Android Auto is Google’s competitor to Apple’s CarPlay.

So again to Polestar right here, they introduced earlier within the month that in replace P3.3.16 for the Polestar 2, they’re enabling Android Auto. They’ve had CarPlay of their vehicles for a least a few years now, however doubtless stored Android Auto away as a result of the automotive already runs Android Automotive. That’s (lastly) altering.

In a personal Polestar neighborhood on Fb, an organization rep referred to as this “one in all your most requested options” and described its implementation within the following approach:

This phone-based system tasks out of your Android machine to your infotainment system, from which you’ll be able to function hands-free. The app will begin routinely your machine is related (wired connection). This automated begin might be deactivated beneath settings, and you may nonetheless return and use the Google Constructed-in system (Polestar 2’s native Android Automotive system) everytime you need.

As an proprietor of a Polestar 2, I can’t start to explain how welcomed this replace might be. The Android Automotive expertise within the automotive is…tremendous. It’s very restricted in what might be seen at one time on the display screen, has limits to the app choice, might be irritating to navigate, and actually lacks in common updates which may convey enhancements. Android Auto, whereas it’ll be wired within the Polestar 2, a minimum of provides extra apps, a greater general UI, and may/will enhance as Google sees match.

The replace for the Polestar 2 ought to convey wired Android Auto again via 2021 fashions. The replace was initially introduced as a workshop replace (which implies put in via service appointments), however ought to swap to over-the-air. A few people on the Polestar subreddit said they obtained it OTA and in appointments, however the replace has doubtless been paused for the vacations and may resume within the subsequent couple of weeks. That’s what is happening with similar Volvo EVs getting Android Auto.

Updates in software program model P3.3.16

• Enabling Android Auto.
• Improved driving expertise at low pace (MY21-23).
• Introducing HD radio.

// Polestar