Android Auto Includes Auxiliary Display Feature (v15.4.654014-release)

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Key Points of This Article

• Android Auto appears to now include a feature for displaying navigation information on auxiliary displays like the instrument cluster.
• An analysis of the in-app code from the Android Auto app version v15.4.654014-release, distributed around Friday, October 17, 2025, confirms the addition of a background program, “AuxiliaryDisplayNavigationCarActivityService,” for auxiliary display functionality.
• This program displays essential navigation information, such as the next turn direction, distance to the turn, and road names, on the meter panel that is linked with the car navigation or car audio system.

Google’s in-car operating system, Android Auto, now appears to include a feature for displaying navigation information on auxiliary displays, such as the instrument cluster.

An analysis of the in-app code from the Android Auto app version v15.4.654014-release, which was distributed around Friday, October 17, 2025, has confirmed the addition of a background program called “AuxiliaryDisplayNavigationCarActivityService” for auxiliary display functionality.

<service
    android:name="com.google.android.projection.gearhead.system.auxiliarydisplay.AuxiliaryDisplayNavigationCarActivityService"
    android:exported="false"
    android:process=":projection">
    <intent-filter>
        <category android:name="com.google.android.gms.car.category.CATEGORY_PROJECTION" />
    </intent-filter>
    <meta-data
        android:name="android.app.theme"
        android:resource="@style/Theme.Gearhead.Projected.TranslucentStatus" />
    <meta-data
        android:name="com.google.android.projection.gearhead.GHOST_ACTIVITY"
        android:value="com.google.android.apps.auto.client.activity.ghost.GhostActivity" />
</service>

This Android Auto background program, “AuxiliaryDisplayNavigationCarActivityService,” is designed to display essential navigation information—such as the next turn direction, distance to the turn, and road names—on the meter panel that is linked with the car’s navigation or audio system. This means that in the future, vehicles equipped with navigation or audio systems that support Android Auto and are linked to the meter panel (instrument cluster) may be able to display Android Auto’s navigation on the meter panel.

Android Auto App Link