Toyota to add Android Auto, joining Apple CarPlay, but not for Australia yet

Toyota has allegedly agreed to make future vehicles compatible with Andoirid Auto after years of resisting the connectivity.

Bloomberg is reporting that a "person familiar with the matter" has confirmed the plans for Toyota’s media systems, although the sources were not named as the information is not meant to be publicly available yet.

Toyota officials told Bloomberg the Japanese juggernaut "acknowledges demand for Android Auto" and that it "is something the company is considering".

The conservative company has taken issue with major phone connectivity since 2015, citing serious security and privacy concerns. 

It’s a position that was seemingly backed correctly after an article appeared on Motor Trend in 2015 claiming that Porsche had refused Android Auto access as Google could collect huge amounts of vehicle telemetry via Android operating systems once a device was connected. 

At the time Google refuted the extent of the claims, but would not confirm or deny whether it collects vehicle data when an Android phone is connected.

Adding Android Auto would mark a huge change for Toyota and Lexus, which both only recently allowed Apple CarPlay connectivity in overseas markets for the Corolla, Lexus UX and US-market Avalon sedan.

When queried at the time whether the technology would be available in Australia for the 2019 Toyota Corolla launch, Toyota and Lexus representatives told CarsGuide the connectivity would not be available locally for the time being.

As to a timeline for Android Auto, Bloomberg speculates that an announcement could be made as early as October.

Do you ever worry that technology companies could potentially be collecting data from your vehicle? Tell us what you think in the comments below.