TL;DR The Android Automotive 16 update introduces several subtle UI changes to the home screen, launcher, and notification panel.
Key adjustments include a redesigned volume panel, a taller media card, a new voice assistant button, and a more legible app grid.
The update also adds a toggle for Ultra-Wideband (UWB), a key component of Android’s digital car key feature.
Just like with Android on phones and tablets, Google pushes out yearly updates to its OS for cars, Android Automotive OS (AAOS). Unlike on mobile devices, these updates are typically smaller in scope; for safety, the in-car platform is intentionally more limited. While the upcoming Android Automotive 16 update won’t be as feature-packed as Android 16 for phones, it still introduces several subtle UI changes to the home screen, launcher, and notification panel, as well as makes it easier to launch the digital assistant.
Before we dive in, it’s important to clarify a few things. First, Android Automotive OS isn’t the same as Android Auto. Android Auto is an interface projected to your car’s infotainment screen from your phone, while AAOS is the native operating system that runs directly on the car’s hardware. Second, because AAOS is open-source, automakers can customize it heavily. The changes we’re highlighting are from the baseline version of the OS, meaning the final UI in your vehicle may look different. Even cars marketed with “Google built-in” aren’t guaranteed to adopt these specific changes, as that branding primarily refers to the inclusion of Google’s apps.
With that out of the way, here’s everything new we spotted in the Android Automotive 16 release.
What’s new in Android Automotive 16 On the home screen, the Weather card has been removed, allowing the Media card to become much taller. Additionally, the system bars at the top and bottom now match the UI’s background color instead of being permanently black.
The quick access volume button moves from the bottom right corner to the top left, positioning it next to the brightness control. In its place, you’ll find a new dedicated voice assistant button. This change makes launching the digital assistant more accessible and could be laying the groundwork for Gemini’s arrival in cars with Google Built-in.
Home screen in Android Automotive 15 Home screen in Android Automotive 16
Speaking of volume, the pop-up volume panel has been redesigned. It’s now fully expanded by default and no longer stretches across the entire display, instead appearing as a more compact overlay with a dimmed background. Each audio stream (like media or navigation) gets a clear text label above its corresponding slider. A new button at the top of the panel launches the media output switcher, while a shortcut to the main sound settings now sits at the bottom. Lastly, there’s a new dedicated slider for navigation volume, and “ringer volume” has been renamed to the more descriptive “in-call volume.”
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