OREANDA-NEWS. April 06, 2016. The expansion was tweeted Monday from the official Android account. The additions means that Android Auto is now available in 28 countries. Though only certain model vehicles come with the feature preinstalled, consumers can purchase third-party after-market systems that are compatible with Google's in-car software.

Android Auto connects your smartphone to your car's touchscreen infotainment system so the two can work together. Via your smartphone, your dashboard touchscreen can help you navigate, make calls, play music and perform other tasks hands-free. Using Android Auto requires a phone running Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher, a USB cable and a compatible car.

Tech companies are increasingly looking to cars as a new spot to embed their products. Carrying over their battle from the smartphone market, Apple and Google each offer rival technologies to help you control your in-car systems. Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto both take advantage of the desire on the part of consumers to always stay connected.