C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
TL;DR Google Maps lets users choose custom vehicle avatars, including type and color.
So far, you’ve had to make these selections in Maps on your phone.
Android Auto is working on its own built-in screen for selecting avatars, right from your car.
When we’re driving somewhere with Google Maps and Android Auto, it may be easy enough to follow along with the little blue on-screen arrow, but what fun is that? Google Maps offers all types of custom vehicle icons, letting you choose an avatar that not just matches your car or truck’s style, but color as well. Even as some Android Auto users struggle with vanishing icons, we’ve spotted what could be the next big upgrade here, giving you more control right from your vehicle itself.
Right now, even though you can see your custom avatar when using Maps in Android Auto, there’s no native way to make that selection from your dash. Instead, before you see that blue arrow transform into the red SUV you want, you have to pull up Maps on your phone and choose your vehicle there.
And while that works just fine, Google appears to be getting ready to flesh things out on the Android Auto side of things with its own menu.
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With Google’s Android Auto 16.2.660604-release edition, we see the company preparing to add a new “Driving avatar” option in navigation settings. Tap that, and you’ll see the same vehicles selection interface (including color choice) that we’re familiar with from our phones.
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