Android Auto is finally adding a built-in speedometer to Google Maps, addressing a missing feature that has long stood out in Google’s in-car platform. The update brings a basic but useful driving tool to Android Auto users who rely on Google Maps for navigation.
The addition is notable because Google Maps has already offered a speedometer on Apple CarPlay for roughly two years. That made Android Auto feel behind in an area many drivers consider standard, especially since the platform already handles messaging, media, and turn-by-turn directions.
By bringing the speed display to Google Maps on Android Auto, Google appears to be closing one of the more obvious feature gaps between the two dashboard systems. For drivers, the change should make it easier to keep an eye on speed without switching attention away from the navigation screen.
While it is a relatively small update compared with major interface changes, it could have an outsized impact on everyday use. For Android Auto users who have been waiting for parity with CarPlay in Google Maps, this is a practical improvement that has been a long time coming.
