At Google I/O 2025 this week, Google made a bunch of new announcements regarding Android, Gemini, and much more. Among the new announcements, the search engine giant revealed that it’s all set to launch some new features to the Android Auto platform, including support for Gemini. Furthermore, Google has announced new media app templates in Android for Cars App Library. Thanks to these, you will soon be able to initiate or join Spotify Jam sessions in vehicles with Android Auto.
Spotify Jam, the collaborative playlist functionality, will soon arrive on Android Auto
Spotify introduced Jam, a new, personalized way to listen to music with your entire squad, in September 2023. So far, this feature has only been available in the Spotify app for smartphones, desktops, and TVs. Now, Google and Spotify announced that Jam functionality is coming to vehicles powered by Android Auto and cars with Google built-in for seamless transition.
Google has introduced a new Media Playback template, which allows app developers to create a Now Playing view with the ability to add custom interactions. There’s also a new Sectioned Item template, which lets them introduce content discovery and catalog browsing experiences while minimizing distractions.
App developers can combine the new templates to create experiences similar to the functionalities users use on their mobile devices. Thanks to these templates, Spotify Jam will arrive on the Android Auto platform at some point later this year. These new media app templates are available for Android Auto right away, and Google will offer them for Android Automotive OS later this year.
Here’s how Android Auto users will be able to enjoy a Spotify Jam session
Once the new feature arrives, users will be able to modify a shared playlist on their phone after joining using a QR code on the car’s infotainment system’s display. This would reduce the overall task load on the driver and the person sitting in the front. The new feature will provide all the people in a vehicle the ability to control media discovery and playback without physical proximity to the infotainment unit.
Apart from the new Spotify feature, the Android Auto platform is also getting support for video streaming and browser applications. As of now, Google is testing these features and will launch them for cars running Android Auto at some point later this year.
