BMW Operating System 8 to be integrated with Android Automotive OS

KUALA LUMPUR: From March 2023, BMW Group plans to expand its Operating System 8 and integrate it with Android Automotive OS (AAOS). This confirms Google’s growing influence in the auto industry with a handful of models from Volvo, GM, and Polestar already with models featuring Android Automotive OS.

The said announcement was made via Automobil-Elektronik Kongress, however, no details were shared by the automaker. We only know for a fact that the AAOS integration will commence with only a certain model series for the first time. This move is regarded by the brand as a second technological approach alongside the current Linux-based variant of the BMW OS 8.

No pictures were either released by the brand of the upcoming AA OS, however, BMW did say that “different software platforms enable the infotainment system to be individually configured.”

Further, using the same codebase as the Android running tablets and phones, the BMW-based system is expected to feature applications like Google Assist and Google Maps along with third-party apps.

Stephan Durach, BMW’s Senior Vice President of Connected Company and Development Technical Operations on the company’s latest tech move said “We are integrating the best aspects of all worlds – that could be our own in-house developments, Open Source or commercial software products, depending on what the specific solution looks like.” He went on to say the company wants to make sure “our customers always enjoy a unique, customized digital experience in their vehicle.”

The Android Automotive OS by Google is an open and customizable software that can be adjusted to run on automotive head units and information systems. In BMWs own words, the AA OS “enables new efficiencies by providing basic automotive infotainment features in a free and open source codebase,” all this while “customization enables implementers to differentiate the product as they see fit.”

Still a number of questions on the AAOS remain unanswered, right? However, it won’t be for long as we’ll get to see BMW models with the tech by early next year.

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