Android Auto receives apps for navigation, parking and electric charging from third parties

Google is letting developers make more apps for Android Auto. A number of early accesspartners, including TomTom, will release beta versions of their apps at the end of this year. If the tests go well, Google will make APIs available to all developers.

Google says the partners are using a new Android for Cars App Library. This should guarantee that the apps developed for Android Auto can be used with a minimum of interaction with the screen.

On its developer blog, Google shows examples of partners who are now working on Android Auto apps as a test. Companies such as TomTom, SpotHero and MapFactor are participating in this. These are developers who make apps for navigation, parking or electric charging.

Currently, there are only Android Auto apps for third-party media and chat. It is not yet clear when the apps in the other categories will actually be available. The partners will release beta apps at the end of this year and Google says it will conduct an evaluation after a test and release the APIs if successful.