Android Auto is getting an update: Your dashboard will soon tell you if your Uber Eats meal will be home before you

The Android interface integrated into some cars is getting better. A new feature will allow apps to display useful information directly on the vehicle's home screen. This will make journeys simpler and more informed.

Android Auto continues to evolve. This system, installed directly in certain cars like the Renault 5 E-Tech, offers an interface designed for driving: navigation with Google Maps, music via Spotify, weather or calls, without using a smartphone. Until now, only a few elements could appear on the home screen. It was often necessary to open each application to check the status of an order, follow an Uber route or see if a download was complete. Google is changing this logic with the arrival of a new module. This new feature is called AppCard. Spotted by our colleagues at Android Authority, it allows certain applications to display specific information directly on the vehicle's main screen. For example, a delivery service could show the status of your order or its estimated arrival time, without you having to touch the screen. A banking application could display the updated balance or an important alert. Each card can contain text, an image, a button, or a progress bar. The style remains controlled by the manufacturer to ensure a readable presentation.

Android Auto alerts you when your order is approaching

Thanks to these dynamic maps, key information is visible right from the vehicle's home screen, without having to manually open each application. You can track a delivery order, check a bank notification, or find out if a passenger is on the way, all at a glance. Content is displayed visually, clearly, and remains accessible at all times, which limits manipulation while driving. This functionality is reminiscent of Android 16's "over-the-air updates" on mobile, but here, everything is integrated directly into the main screen of the in-car system.

AppCard does not necessarily require a full system update. Google specifies that compatible apps can be upgraded independently, as is already the case for Google Maps or Assistant apps. However, manufacturers will have to enable car-side support. For them, this means simplified access to really useful information, as soon as they get in the car.