An inside look into the Group Application Store

What if your next Android app could run natively in millions of cars from Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen?

#1about 6 minutes

The paradigm shift to software-defined vehicles

The automotive industry is shifting from a focus on hardware to software, creating new in-car experiences and use cases driven by connectivity and electrification.

#2about 2 minutes

Understanding Android Automotive versus Android Auto

Android Automotive is a full, native operating system running directly in the car, distinct from Android Auto which only mirrors phone applications.

#3about 1 minute

Introducing the Volkswagen Group application store

The group's new application store provides a unified, Android-based platform for developers to easily build and scale apps across multiple vehicle brands.

#4about 7 minutes

The technical architecture of Android Automotive

Android Automotive uses a Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) to provide a standardized API for developers, abstracting away the complex, proprietary vehicle networks of each OEM.

#5about 4 minutes

Securely accessing vehicle data with Android APIs

Developers can access vehicle data like speed or gear selection through the CarPropertyManager API, with security enforced by Android's permission system to prevent malicious access.

#6about 4 minutes

App development guidelines and partnership programs

Developers can use pre-built templates to comply with driver distraction guidelines or create custom UIs, with a premium partner program offering access to proprietary APIs.

#7about 2 minutes

Integrating the Harmon Ignite store into the VW ecosystem

Volkswagen Group built a custom backend integration layer on Azure to connect the generic Harmon Ignite app store solution with its own internal architecture.

#8about 1 minute

How developers can get started building automotive apps

Developers are encouraged to start learning by using the Android Studio emulator, exploring the documentation, and submitting their apps to the Harmon Ignite developer portal.