At the Google I/O 2025 conference, several changes were announced for Android Auto, including a redesigned interface and more flexible tools for developers. Among these new features, Spotify is preparing a major update.
A more flexible interface for music apps on Android Auto
Until now, all music apps on Android Auto shared the same structure. This was useful for not getting lost while driving, but frustrating for developers who had little room for maneuver. Google has decided to relax the rules a little with two major changes. The first concerns the new "SectionedItemTemplate" template which now allows you to organize the navigation screen into sections. For example, the app can highlight recent searches above available albums.
The second is the "MediaPlaybackTemplate" which now allows developers to change the position or order of the buttons. During the demonstration (in the video below), for example, the playback controls were placed in a corner of the screen. Google is also further opening up the capabilities of its "Car App Library", currently in beta. The goal is to allow music apps to offer an experience closer to their smartphone version. Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and Spotify will be among the first to benefit.
A new way to share Spotify in the car
Among the most concrete new features, Spotify will launch a new version of its Android Auto app "in the coming months." This will result in the arrival of "Jam" mode, a feature already available on mobile that allows several people to listen and add tracks to the queue together. Passengers will simply have to scan a QR code to do so. No need for a Bluetooth connection or technical tinkering, then.
The dashboard screen will even display the participants, with the option to remove them if necessary. This feature, designed for trips with several people, fits perfectly with Android Auto's new approach: making apps better suited to car journeys. And like Spotify, other apps will benefit from this redesign to offer a better user experience.
Source: 9to5Google
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