Nissan is switching to Android Automotive and Google in the car

Nissan today introduced the updated Qashqai, of which we will also get an electric version for a long time. This is still not available at Nissan today, but there is another (in my opinion very exciting) innovation.

Nissan is now using Google in cars

This brand switched to Google last year with the new Rogue, which is exclusive to the American market, and now it is taking this step with us as well. Nissan relies on Android Automotive and Google services are available for the new Qashqai.

Users can access Google Maps, Google Assistant and other Google services and if that is not enough, then there is Google Play Store, where you can download popular car apps.

I didn’t know that Nissan is a Google partner and they rely on Android Automotive and Google services, but since the software in Ariya (which still doesn’t offer this) was a big weakness for me, that’s a good thing.

With the arrival of Android Automotive, there are also over-the-air updates and the integrated Google Assistant app can of course control things like the air conditioner and the like via voice commands. I would say that Google has been slowly winning.

Android is conquering the automotive industry

Volvo, Polestar, Renault, Porsche, Honda, Ford, the list of automakers relying on Android in Google cars and services is growing. There is also no competition here, so more and more brands will follow in the long run.

By the way, some are based on Android, but not directly on Google services, but I bet that many more (like Porsche) will accept. Let’s see if Android Automotive will be the standard in the modern car in 10 years.

A fun fact at this point: Google is not (yet) narrow-minded and allows many alternatives. For example, Nissan continues to offer Amazon Alexa, as before, and of course you can also use Apple CarPlay in the new Nissan Qashqai.

And another interesting fact: Google is distancing itself more and more from Android Automotive as a brand, Nissan’s press release doesn’t even mention it. For just over a year it has been called “Google built in”.

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