Google Announces New Android Automotive Emulator with Google Play Store

Google has announced an updated version of the Android Automotive emulator that has support for Google Play Store, meaning that devs can now test more parts of their apps without the need for an actual car running the platform.

The new emulator makes it possible for software developers to create their apps from one end to another a lot easier and without waiting for cars with Android Automotive to become available.

“This means developers no longer have to wait to get their hands on a vehicle, but can design, develop, run apps right within the emulator, and can now test distribution via Play Console by requesting access,” Madan Ankapura, Product Manager, Android, says.

The app push

In addition, Google also announced that more apps are being developed for Android Automotive, presumably paving the road for the ecosystem to expand beyond the media apps that make so much sense when driving.

“More media app developers, including Amazon Music, Audioburst and YouTube Music, are adapting their apps for Android Automotive OS. The process of porting existing media apps that support Android Auto to this platform is simple and requires minimal development resource,” Ankapura explains.

As compared to Android Auto, which is powered by software running on an Android phone, Android Automotive is a stand-alone platform based on Android. The purpose of Android Automotive is to bring the full Android experience behind the wheel without limitations in terms of apps, and this is why Google is pushing hard for empowering developers to bring their apps to the platform.

Google has already announced collaboration with several carmakers, including Volvo and General Motors, to install Android Automotive in new cars, and the company says it’s already making progress in this regard.

“We are making progress on our vision with these brand new, customized infotainment systems that feature real-time updates to the Google Assistant, Google Maps and automotive apps created by Google, and the global developer community,” Ankapura concluded.`