A developer's crowdfunding project for a wireless form of Android Auto beats its goal

Android Auto is software that translates relevant resources such as mapping, voice-control or entertainment apps to a modern car's display unit. As with many aspects of the ecosystem into which it fits, it has scope for much customization and adaptation, which has led to the growth of its own development community over time.

Emil Borconi-Szedressy is a prominent contributor to this space, having compiled or worked on Android Auto tweaks or advances such as Headunit Reloaded and the obd2aa app. Now, he has moved into hardware that serves the app too. AAWireless is his prototype that makes this connection wireless.

Borconi-Szedressy has started an Indiegogo-origin project to bring this new "plug-and-play" box for cars to mass production. This, apparently, will involve cutting down on most of the prototype's current I/O (which is relatively extensive and includes an RJ-45 jack) as well as its footprint.

This prospect has won the idea approximately US$280,000 in backing, or 1.3 times its original crowdfunding goal (correct at the time of writing). Its supporters may be rewarded with a device compatible with any car or aftermarket head unit that supports Android Auto.

Then again, the developer has supplied a list of cars or auto tech in which the product works (or works with bugs) for sure. They include the Honda CR-V; some Toyotas; the Sony XAV100; Audi's MMI and the Ford Sync 3.

In addition, the AAWireless page also now states that newer backers (those who did so on September 7, 2020 or later) will not receive their rewards until February 2021, as opposed to the original shipping date of December 2020. Finally, the official Android Auto page notes that a natively wireless form of the service may be coming to new cars soon in any case.