Android Auto 13.9 Beta Released: Here’s Everything New in 2025
Android Auto 13.9 beta update just released. While the beta only brings bug fixes, it prepaers for a long list of featrues coming to Android Auto in 2025. Most of the featrues we have already covered before such as the long awaited Car Ready Mobile Apps Program and New Car App Quality Tiers. This program’s aim is to unlock new apps for Android Auto while in driving modes and parked mode.
Another big change happening is the switch from Google Assistant to Gemini for Android Auto, Wear OS, Android Automotive, Android XR and more platforms. You may son see Gemini in your car. So stay tuned as we will be the first to showcase the new AI for cars here.
What’s coming to Android Auto in 2025?
Gemini replacing Google Assistant on Android Auto
Google Assistant, which has over a Billion downloads on Android, hasn’t been updated in over a year. This is now causing issues with Android devices still using the Google Assistant; especially Android Auto. This is because Google has long abandoned the native assistant in favor of the AI based Gemini assistant.
Android phone are already forced to replace Google Assistant with Gemini. Android Auto, Wear OS, and older smartphones will get the Gemini AI assistant any time now.
Read our article on Why Google Assistant Is Failing on Android Auto.
Google is testing the Gemini Live action trigger, which is outlined by the code found in the latest Android Auto beta. We found the following source code assistant kitt live and a new icon under for the same, which suggests a new assistant like Gemini Live, which is essentially a replacement to Google Assistant.
<public type="drawable" name="res_0x7f080009_ic_assistant_kitt_live_icon__0"/>
<public type="string" name="gearhead_assistant_action_kitt_live_query"/>You will soon see a live example of Gemini on Android Auto here. So stay tuned!
Unlocking new phone apps for Android Auto in parked and drive modes
Android Auto will soon notify you if there are new apps available for your car. Google announced Car Ready Mobile Apps Program last year, which may be taking effect now as Android Auto will show compatible apps installed on your phone.
We found the following code in Android Auto 13.7 source:
<public type=”string” name=”new_app_available”/>
<public type=”string” name=”new_parked_app_available”/>
The new parked app is particularly interesting because Android Auto may enable mroe apps when parked.
What is Car Ready Mobile Apps Program?
Android Auto 13.9 update aligns with Google’s promise for Car Ready Mobile Apps Program and New Car App Quality Tiers.
Google announced new quality tiers to streamline the process of adapting existing apps for cars. These tiers ensure that apps provide a great user experience while addressing unique automotive considerations such as safety and varied screen sizes.
The tiers include:
- Tier 1: Car Differentiated — Apps specifically designed for the diverse hardware in cars, adaptable to both driving and parked modes, and optimized for various screens like the center console and instrument cluster.
- Tier 2: Car Optimized — Apps that provide a strong in-car experience with some car-specific engineering, suitable for both driving and parked modes.
- Tier 3: Car Ready — Apps compatible with large screens, enabled while the car is parked, and requiring minimal additional development work.
Android Auto Car App Quality Tiers may be taking into effect and app developers may already be working on deploying apps for cars as we write. We may even see Google’s own apps like YouTube make its way to Android Auto while the care is parked.
Audio drop and Bluetooth connectivity fixes
Android’s February 2025 security patch addressed persistent issues with audio output and intermittent Bluetooth connectivity. This update ensures that the audio systems in your car function as expected and that your devices connect reliably.
The two main fixes brought up in the February 2025 patch are related to Audio and Bluetooth, especially for Android Auto. It fixed issues with audio output in Android Auto under certain conditions and fix for issue occasionally preventing connection with certain Bluetooth devices or accessories.
So look forward to the new update on your phone by visiting Settings > System Updates > Check for OTA Update.
Google Pixel lineup is the first to receive the February software update running Android 15. However, other phone manufacturers like Samsung, OnePlus, Nothing, Xiaomi, OPPO, and telecom carriers will soon release the latest Android Security Patches for their respective phones this month.
Android Auto for Cars, Bikes, and Light EVs
AA added support for LECCS (Light Electric Combined Charging System). We found the following toggle under Android Auto’s Electric vehicle settings. It now supports Type 6 and LECCS. The later is especially fascinating as it is mostly used in electric bikes or scooters.
LECCS is a charging connector designed and engineered in India specifically for light electric vehicles (LEVs) like Ather Energy. It is mostly used in electric scooters like Ather.
Android Auto now support wide range of EVs and cars from various OEMS like Lucid, Leapmotor, Hyundai, Lincoln, and Geely. Here is the complete list of Car Manufacturers supported by Android Auto.
Android Auto 13.5 Beta adds Light EVs too!
Fixes for Google Maps
Latest Android Auto update fixes the issue where the car’s current location icon was improperly centered due to the search dialog covering a significant portion of the screen. Now, the UI is more balanced, ensuring that your navigation experience is smoother and less frustrating.
A very annoying issue with Google Maps, wherein the UI is centered on the screen. This makes the car current location icon centered, making it difficult to see one’s location when the destination box is taking up a good portion of the screen.
When the user doesn’t have a destination set, the search box covers a significant portion of the screen, unless you close it every time you start the car.
The issue with Google Maps on Android Auto that makes the car current location icon centered may have been fixed with the latest update. It is off-centered now.
We’ve noticed that the latest Google Maps update now fits the Android Auto screen much more effectively.
Download Android Auto 13.9 Beta APK
New Android Auto 13.9.150944 betaAPK is now available for download. Get the APK and sideload onto your phone. Or, sign up for beta and get it officially from the Google Play Store.
- Android Auto APK 13.9 beta (arm64)
Download Android Auto from Play Store
The official Android Auto listing is now available on Play Store. However, the latest version takes some time to reflect as it is a phased update. As an alternative, download APK from above or sign up for beta version.
