PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

Hyundai First to Offer Android Auto

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

Hyundai said today that it will be the first auto maker to offer Android Auto.

Nextcar Bug artStarting with the 2015 Sonata, Android users will be able to plug their phones into their cars and have details like navigation, messaging, and calls appear on the vehicle's 8-inch touch screen. The phone, meanwhile, locks when it plugs in so drivers don't sneak a peek while behind the wheel.

Hyundai plans to expand Android Auto to other models in the future, too.

"Android Auto aligns with Hyundai's core interior design principles of safety, intuitiveness, and simplicity," Dave Zuchowski, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America, said in a statement.

Those who already have a 2015 Sonata with navigation features (Sonata Sport, Eco, Limited, Sport 2.0T, and Limited 2.0T models) can get the Android Auto software update at their Hyundai dealer. This summer, they will be able to download it to a USB stick and do the update themselves.

Google first tipped Android Auto at last year's Google I/O developer conference. It emerged from the Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), of which Hyundai is a member.

But while auto makers have voiced support for Android Auto over the last year, it didn't make its official debut until last month on smartphones and a few aftermarket dashboard units. And now it's coming to Hyundai cars.

At this point, it's only available on Android devices with Lollipop. As of May 4, just under 10 percent of Android devices were running Google's next-gen mobile OS.

Hyundai is also among the many car makers that will support Apple CarPlay, which offers features similar to Android Auto, but for iOS.

Look for more details about Android in the car at this week's Google I/O; rumors tip a deeper integration of Android in the car.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

Read full bio