Android Auto (Google Android Auto)

Brand Names

Google's smartphone-projection system for compatible Android phones. Supported on GM HMI 2.5+ and CSM-based vehicles; older HMI 2.0 vehicles can be retrofitted.

Android Auto is Google’s smartphone-projection platform — the Android counterpart to Apple CarPlay. It lets a compatible Android phone use the vehicle’s infotainment display, microphone, and speakers for Google Maps navigation, music, calls, messages, and Google Assistant.

Android Auto support across GM infotainment generations mirrors CarPlay closely:

  • HMI 1.1 / 2.0 (2013–2015) — No native Android Auto support. Can be retrofitted via a WAMS upgrade kit.
  • HMI 2.5 (2016–2019) — Wired Android Auto supported natively. No wireless.
  • 2016 model year exception — 2016 GM vehicles shipped with native CarPlay support but Android Auto was added via a mid-cycle update. WAMS performs Android Auto activation for 2016 vehicles that didn’t receive the update.
  • CSM (2017.5+) — Wired Android Auto supported natively. Wireless Android Auto added on selected later CSM platforms.
  • CSM with Google Built-in / IOK — Wired and wireless Android Auto plus native Google services.

WAMS offers wireless Android Auto upgrade kits for many vehicles that originally shipped with wired-only support, often bundled with CarPlay wireless and HD Radio upgrades into a single retrofit.

Vehicle Applicability

2016+ GM HMI 2.5 vehicles (2016 may require WAMS activation). All CSM-based vehicles ship with native Android Auto. 2013–2015 HMI 2.0 vehicles can be retrofit.

Also known as: Android Auto, Google Android Auto

Related Terms

  • CarPlay — Apple's smartphone-projection system, supported on GM HMI 2.5+ and most CSM-based vehicles. Older HMI 2.0 vehicles can be retrofitted.
  • HMI — The primary infotainment computer in most 2013–2020 GM vehicles with MyLink, IntelliLink, or first-generation CUE.
  • CSM — GM's unified next-generation infotainment computer that replaced the HMI starting on select GM platforms in mid-2017.5.
  • IO5 — The GM RPO code for the non-navigation HMI 2.0/2.5 infotainment configuration found on most 2014–2019 GM vehicles.
  • IO6 — The GM RPO code for the HMI infotainment configuration with embedded factory navigation, found on premium-trim 2014–2019 GM vehicles.
  • MyLink — Chevrolet's branded infotainment interface, used on HMI-based vehicles from 2013 onward.
  • IntelliLink — GMC's and Buick's branded infotainment interface, used on HMI-based vehicles from 2013 onward.
  • CUE — Cadillac's branded infotainment interface. First-generation CUE (2013–2016) used HMI hardware; later CUE branding sits on CSM hardware.
  • Plug and Play — A WAMS replacement module that ships pre-programmed to the customer's VIN, requiring no dealer trip and no scan tool to install.

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