Google reportedly plans on building its Android Auto Software directly into cars so drivers won't need to plug in their smartphones to go online.
Two people with knowledge of the move say these cars will debut when the search giant launches Android M, the next version of the operating system, in the next year or so, according to Reuters. This puts the new cars at a launch sometime in 2015.
Google is currently competing with Apple in providing a more advanced driving experience, so the new system could help the company get a step ahead of its arch-rival.
Android Auto is designed to control entertainment, navigation and settings in a person's car and serve as an alternative to Android, which is popular as a default program for in-car computers, The Telegraph reported.
Bringing the Android operating system to every new car has been a major priority for Google, which formed the Open Automotive Alliance with Audi, Honda and General Motors earlier this year. The goal of the alliance is to make driving "safer, easier and more enjoyable" while "accelerating auto innovation with an approach that offers openness, customization and scale."
The new Android would have to compete with Apple's CarPlay software, which also lets people "project" apps from their phones onto their car's screen, Reuters reported.
The sources pointed out several benefits of building Android into a car, such as Google not being at risk of switching off when a smartphone's battery dies, as well as the company having access to information about the car's components and using it for advertising.
"You can get access to GPS location, where you stop, where you travel everyday, your speed, your fuel level, where you stop for gas," one of the sources said.
However, the sources said Android would need major improvements before automakers decide to use it, such as the need to power up instantly when the driver starts the car, so they don't have to wait for more than 30 seconds. Giving Google access to in-car components could also be a concern for car companies worried about safety and liability issues, as well as those who don't want other companies to get too involved in their business.
With support from several automakers, Google has the potential to provide the in-car experience it's aiming for.
