Android Auto could soon make commute part of your workday, whether you like it or not

Android Auto is progressing toward a major redesign with 3D elements and widgets that Google previewed around I/O 2026. While the design hasn’t rolled out yet, we’ve spotted several changes in its development, including a new logo, support for Android-style quick settings tiles, dual SIM status, and other minor updates.

While Google hasn’t clarified when the new design will start rolling out, it is testing ways to let users accomplish more from their car screens. The latest hints point at support for work apps.

We’ve found evidence suggesting Android Auto could soon support Work profiles. This simply means that any crucial app on your phone that sends notifications you might want to be up to date with while driving will soon be accessible from the Android Auto screen. That includes Google Meet, which already lets you take audio calls in the car using a Work account but doesn’t allow making any changes from the car’s screen.

The evidence appears in the form of a Quick Settings tile for Work Mode. We were able to activate this tile by back-engineering version 18.0.664204 of the Android Auto app.

The tile doesn’t seem to be functional at the moment, though we could expect it to work the same way it does on the phone. When the tile is highlighted (enabled), it allows separate instances of work-related apps that run independently of the apps running your personal accounts.

When enabled, a highlighted Work icon could also appear floating on the side of the screen.

In addition, we’ve discovered new icons for DND, battery saver, light & dark modes, and settings. These icons are specific to Samsung devices, but we suspect they may also relate to the upcoming Quick Settings tiles.