Google Unveils Android Auto, Android 17, Googlebooks

Google unveiled sweeping updates to Android Auto, new features for Android 17 and a lineup of premium AI-powered laptops called Googlebooks during its Android Show 2026 event this week.

The Android Auto redesign features a Material 3 Expressive interface that adapts to various car screen shapes, including those in vehicles from BMW, Mini, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata and Volvo. New at-a-glance widgets for contacts, weather and garage controls overlay an edge-to-edge Google Maps view. Immersive Navigation, the biggest Maps overhaul in over a decade, includes 3D building renderings, lane guidance and highlights for traffic lights and signs. When parked or charging, users can play full HD video from apps like YouTube, switching to audio during drives with Dolby Atmos support. Gemini AI enables contextual text replies, voice-activated tasks such as food orders through DoorDash and vehicle-specific queries. These enhancements will roll out progressively this year to more than 250 million compatible vehicles across over 16 brands. Google emphasized safety measures, including vehicle status checks before media playback.

Android 17 centers on AI-driven...