Google wants an Android in every Audi and Honda

The search giant has created a new organisation, with the backing of several of the world's largest car makers, to promote the Android operating system as a common standard for in-car computers

Google has teamed up with Audi, Honda and GM to create the Open Automotive Alliance and push the open-source Android operating system into every new car to make driving “safer, easier and more enjoyable”.

The search giant hopes that the OAA will make Android a common standard for in-car computers, bringing the 700,000 existing apps to dashboards.

The Alliance is aimed at “accelerating auto innovation with an approach that offers openness, customization and scale”.

With an Android-powered computer on the dashboard, drivers would be able to access email, apps and music held on their smartphone, directly from their dashboard. It is also expected that some form of voice recognition technology would be incorporated to allow hands-free control, and that GPS navigation would also feature.

The move closely resembles Google's creation of the Open Handset Alliance in 2007 to promote Android as a smartphone operating system. The Alliance requires members to agree that they will not produce devices that run incompatible forks of Android, keeping the OS on a focused development track. It now has over 80 members and Android is the world’s most popular smartphone OS.

Google announced the news at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Patrick Brady, Google’s director of Android Engineering, said in ablog post: “Today, millions of people already bring Android phones and tablets into their cars, but it’s not yet a driving-optimised experience. Wouldn't it be great if you could bring your favourite apps and music with you, and use them safely with your car's built-in controls and in-dash display?