Hyundai First With Android Auto | Howards Hyundai News
SearchRefine Find Us Call Us
Go Back
  • Hyundai First With Android Auto Technology
  • 08 June 2015
    Facebook Icon
    Twitter Icon

    Hyundai First With Android Auto Technology

    Hyundai has become the first car manufacturer to add Android Auto technology to its new models...

Hyundai has become the first car manufacturer to add Android Auto technology to its new models. If you’re the owner of a 2015 Sonata, you’ll soon be able to ask your retailer to download the system for free. The offer is currently available only in the US, but a global rollout is anticipated in the coming months.  

So what’s Android Auto? It connects to the driver's smartphone, giving them access to Google apps such as Google Maps, using voice, dashboard touchscreen or steering-wheel controls. The Korean manufacturer has said it will offer the system in 28 brands by next year.

Hyundai, with sister company Kia the world's fifth-largest car group, is also planning to offer CarPlay, Apple's equivalent, soon as well.

The move is a major step forward in car safety. A Hyundai spokesperson said, "The smartphone's screen becomes locked, so drivers are not tempted to look down and interact with their phones directly while Android Auto is in use".

Speaking to the BBC, Wee Teck Loo, Head of Consumer Electronics at Euromonitor International, said that Google would have a major advantage in emerging car markets such as India, with its 85% smartphone bias towards android. He said, "Hyundai's Sonata is a mid-range sedan and its target consumer demographics would not be the 5% of the smartphone users who use iPhones.”

Owners will simply download the software onto a USB stick. Updates to the car’s navigation system will happen automatically once it’s inserted in the car. Provided owners have Android Lollipop 5.0 plus the Android Auto app on their phone, connection should be instant once the user plugs in their phone.

In a series of promotional videos, Google has shown how maps, music and Google Now cards will show on the car's built-in screen. Music comes through Google Play or your smartphone’s music library, while voice control enables navigation through Google Maps and the ability to ‘write’ and reply to messages. Some models will even come with a voice-activation button on the wheel. With others, it’s simply a case of saying 'OK, Google.'

Apple's CarPlay system is very similar. It starts simply by plugging in an iPhone (5 and upwards) and comes with Siri Eyes-Free. Through Siri, drivers can use voice commands to make calls, access contacts, hear voicemail and return missed calls.

While you’re waiting for Android Auto to reach these shores, why not get down to Howards Group’s showrooms in Yeovil and test drive any of the Hyundai range?

  • Receive our latest news and offers:
    Don’t worry we won’t bombard you with emails and you can refine your preferences at any time.

  • SUBSCRIBE
Reputation Reviews

  • Howards Garages (Weston) Ltd T/A Howards motor Group is an Appointed Representative of Automotive Compliance Ltd who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 497010). Automotive Compliance Ltd’s permissions as a Principal Firm allow Howards Garages (Weston) Ltd T/A Howards motor Group to act as a credit broker, not a lender, for the introduction to a limited number of lenders, and to act as an agent on behalf of the insurer for insurance distribution activities only.

    We are a credit broker and not a lender. We can introduce you to a lender on our panel, which includes lenders of vehicle manufacturers. We have commercial arrangements with lenders and credit brokers which are likely to influence who we introduce you to. We are not an independent financial adviser and don’t give you any advice or recommendations. It is your choice whether you enter into any finance agreement.

    Our approach is to introduce you first to the manufacturer lender linked to the franchise offering you the vehicle. They will usually offer the best available package for you, taking into account both interest rates and other contributions (but we do not guarantee they do). If they are unable to offer finance, we then seek to introduce you to someone else on our panel. We will usually receive a commission for your introduction. This will be either a fixed fee, or a fixed percentage of the amount that you borrow. This may be linked to the vehicle model you choose.

    Lenders of vehicle manufacturers may also provide preferential rates to us for the funding of our vehicle stock and also provide financial support for our training and marketing. But any such amounts they and other lenders pay us will not affect the amounts you pay under your finance agreement. Before we propose you to a potential lender, we will tell you of the likely amount of commission we will receive and seek your consent to receiving this commission. The exact amount of commission will be confirmed before you sign your finance agreement.

    All finance applications are subject to status, terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18s or over. Guarantees may be required.

    To see all trading names we trade under, please click here.