Android Auto 12.7 Beta: New Features, Updates, and Enhancements Revealed

The last few updates were quite extensive in terms of functionality and implementing features for Android Auto. The latest Android Auto 12.7 has been pushed to beta channel and does not contain any major changes as compared to Android Auto 12.5. It brought some new features like System Health Metrics, new notification app badges & animations, support for new cars OEMs like Lucid Motors, RAM Trucks, EVs like Nevo, Hongqi, and GAC.

Android Auto 12.7 is now rolling out to the beta channel with one new feature and under the code optimizations for stability of the system. But there’s more. If you have been following our new APK Breakdown series, we unveiled the new Car Radio Controls feature Google is testing.

Android Auto will receive car radio controls for FM and AM, similar to Apple’s Car Play. This radio on your car feature got an upgrade with a new favorite label. You will be able to add mark your favorite radio channels on Android Auto.

Here is the source code we found in the latest update:

<public type=”string” name=”radio_add_favorite_label”/>
<public type=”string” name=”radio_node_am_display_name”/>
<public type=”string” name=”radio_node_dab_display_name”/>
<public type=”string” name=”radio_node_favorites_display_name” />
<public type=”string” name=”radio_node_fm_display_name”/>
<public type=”string” name=”radio_node_fm_hd_display_name”/>

Moreover, the biggest announcement for this month is that Google Maps gets a new Reporting Feature available for Android, iOS, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. With this new update, Google will crowdsource traffic reports, constructions, police, lane closures, and more and report to everyone on Google Maps; similar to Waze.

Google Maps and Waze Updated with Traffic Reports APK Download — Google Maps and Waze Updated with Traffic Reports

Digging deep into the source code, we also found references to a new Play Store Logo. Take that as you will, as we aren’t sure what this means just yet. The code wasn’t available in the previous versions. This is the first time the Play Store Logo has been referenced.

<public type=”drawable” name=”product_logo_play_store_round_color_48″ />

References to Play Store Logo in Android Auto

As for what’s new, the latest update already supports cars from Lucid Motors, most likely Lucid Air, all it needs is an OTA update from the OEM to be pushed to cars in order to support it. All that is required is an OTA update from Lucid Motors to the cars. Apart from Lucid, we also found support for other car manufacturers like Nevo, Hongqi, and GAC Motors.

Furthermore, new feature called System Health Metrics have been added. While we don’t know what it does yet, it may show some system information about your car or Android Auto.

Notification badges have been redesigned in Android Auto to include an icon with image of the sender. They also have a new animation. The update also brings official support for Android 15 and adds new Notification badge Animations.

Checkout all the new features in Android Auto from our previous article like support for Lucid Motors, System Health Metrics, and Notification badges. Here is the Complete List of Car Manufacturers Supported by Android Auto.

Most importantly, download latest Android Auto APK from here.