Poll by GSMArena shows Android Auto is the favorite car software
A poll conducted by GSMArena suggests that Android Auto is used by 50.1% of car owners, while only 17.4% use Apple CarPlay. No insight into the "I use my phone with a holder" camp is given, as they could be Android or iPhone users.
I'd rather have a system that's compatible with both apple and android phones. A car is supposed to last decades; it's the absolute last place I want a walled garden.
Does "Android Automotive" count as "Android Auto" or "My car's built-in infotainment"?
Edit: For those that don't know, Volvo and Polestar (maybe others), use Android for the native infotainment. This is called "Android Automotive" to distinguish it from the version powered by your phone, called "Android Auto".
I do if I'm traveling on a road not familiar to me. Built-in has an alert for speed cameras, which does not work if AA has a destination set in navigation.
I want to have my own FOSS infotainment system, without proprietary garbage shipped with it. Replaced my head unit with an Android based one and don't ever want to go back.
I learn the route for new routes. (Gives me more choice of routes, and an understanding of the area)
I just turn by turn for known routes. (Stops me from always using the same route, defaulting to a non-optimal route, or forgetting about a construction detour)
When buying a new car I can see why you would want a system that can handle the phone you have, but I can't see it being a show stopper. 20y ago I had a Nokia carkit to be reachable in the car. Now I just use the phone for navigation, fitted next to the radio (not on the window, hindering my view). The OEM radio works perfectly ('03 Volvo S80 with entry model, alas also with the entry speakers).
When buying a used car (The cars here are on average 10y old), entertainment is the last checkbox on the list for most (is it there/replacable). With new cars costing at least a year income, they are seldom bought. The business lease market provides the 4y old second hand cars. ;)
Android Auto is probably the worst thing to happen to car entairtainment systems.
It's an AIO phone fire simulator that allows you to optionally run any google approved apps at the risk of igniting your battery.
Doesn't even come with opengl so any third party nav apps not owned by google are immediately screwed.
Ford's sketchy Microsoft powered sync 1 was better than whatever I have tried with android auto multiple times with multiple phones over multiple versions.
I got to see the high end entertainment system Lexus made back in 2007 and was so amazed that I thought "damn I can't wait for this to become standard in a few years"
Instead every OEM just slapped android auto in and called it a day so they don't have to spend anything on actually making a usable system.