First we learn that BMW will be making Apple CarPlay free for all customers and now that it will finally be offering Android Auto for BMW cars, after what seemed like ages of customer complaints? What is happening in Bavaria? Have they been drinking some particularly strong Glühwein, lately? Whatever is happening, we like it.
Ever since BMW began offering Apple CarPlay, customers with Android phones have been asking why they’ve been neglected. For reasons only understood by BMW, Android Auto — Android’s screen-mirroring alternative to CarPlay — hasn’t been offered in any Bavarian products. Until now, that is.
BMW has just announced that it will be offering wireless Android Auto integration beginning July 2020. Just like its own CarPlay integration, the Android system will be wireless, allowing users to keep their phones in their pockets and having it connect automatically upon entering the car. Few other brands offer wireless Apple CarPlay, which has made BMW somewhat unique for a year or so, so it’s nice to see the Bavarians extending that convenience to the other mobile phone users.
“Many of our customers have pointed out the importance to them of having Android Auto inside a BMW for using a number of familiar Android smartphone features safely without being distracted from the road, in addition to BMW’s own functions and services,” says Peter Henrich, Senior Vice President Product Management BMW. “We will offer this service to our customers starting in July 2020.”
Sweetening the deal even further is the fact that BMW has integrated Android Auto into the new digital instrument panel. So not only will users be able to utilize all of their phone, messaging and media apps via the central iDrive screen but they’ll also be able to use them in the gauge cluster. Not only is that more helpful but it also shows that BMW is doing more with its new digital gauges. Furthermore, all some Android Auto info will be visible in the Head-Up Display.
Android Auto in a BMW will be demonstrated live for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020 and will be available for customers in 20 countries from July 2020 for all vehicles with BMW Operating System 7.0.
It’s nice to finally see BMW acknowledging its Android users, as they’ve been rather annoyed with the brand’s lack of Android integration for some time now.
Info on which mobile phones will be compatible:
- A car or aftermarket receiver that is compatible with Android Auto Wireless.
- Pixel, Nexus, or Samsung phones with Android versions shown below:
Phone Make and Model Android Version Pixel or Pixel XL Android 8.0 or higher Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL Android 8.0 or higher Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL Android 8.0 or higher Nexus 5X or 6P Android 8.0 or higher Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+ Android 9.0 or higher Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+ Android 9.0 or higher Samsung Galaxy S10 or S10+ Android 9.0 or higher Samsung Note 8, Note 9 and Note 10 Android 9.0 or higher - The Android Auto app version 4.7 and up.
- A high-quality USB cable for initial setup.
