Google shuts down Android Auto mobile app to support Google Assistant driving mode

Google has confirmed that the "Android Auto for Phone Screens" app will disappear with Android 12 because Google Assistant driving mode will take over. According to reports, Google said that starting from Android 12, Google assistant driving mode will become the default mobile driving experience.

According to the statement provided to 9to5Google

Google Assistant driving mode is the next evolution of our mobile driving experience. For those who use Android Auto in supported vehicles, this experience will not go away. For users who use the mobile experience (Android Auto mobile app), they will switch to Google Assistant driving mode. Starting with Android 12, Google Assistant driving mode will become a built-in mobile driving experience. We don't have any more details to share at the moment.

In addition, 9to5Google pointed out that the Android Auto mobile app now shows that it is not compatible with Pixel devices on Android 12.

Last week, XDA Developers also found evidence that Google is finally ready to move away from Android Auto apps on smartphones and adopt a new driving mode built into Google Assistant. The publication reported that some users saw a message in the Android Auto for Phone Screens app saying that the service "now applies only to car screens". Therefore, it is instructive to foresee the obvious. Moreover, fast forward to today, this change is now officially happening.