Volkswagen Pioneer, the new year in-car Product

The year 2014 saw Google's Android Auto capture the airwaves in the in-car products. However,  CES 2015 event finally revealed how firms were incorporating the platform in their cars and in-car products. In addition, Apple's Android Auto counterpart, CarPlay, has also been stealing the spotlight as several of the in-car systems have been designed for both platforms.

It is worth mentioning that Android Auto will also be arriving in vehicles from other popular automobile brands including Audi, Bentley, Chrysler, Hyundai, Maserati, Renault, Nissan and more.
Big car manufacturers as well as the automobile accessory-making firms at CES 2015 have shown off products using Google and Apple's automobile-centric offering at CES 2015. Volkswagen, Kenwood, Parrot and Pioneer are some of the brands that have introduced their Android Auto and Apple CarPlay-enabled in-dash receivers, multimedia receivers and other infotainment systems at the event.

Android Auto was launched back in June last year alongside Android L and has been designed to work in coordination with the Android-based devices in the cars. The service will let users easily access functionalities like Maps, Music, and other apps including TuneIn Radio, WhatsApp, Spotify and more. Android Auto is equipped with the Google Now voice-based service to access certain features via voice command to prevent drivers from getting distracted. The firm also released Android Auto APIs for developers to create audio and messaging apps for the platform in November last year.
CarPlay, on the other hand was also announced last year, includes a voice command system along with other features like call alerts, messages, and music.

German automobile giant Volkswagen confirmed that it will ship its "modular infotainment platform" (MIB II) (seen above) in the United States and Europe later this year, with its App-Connect system featuring MirrorLink compatibility, which will allow users to control the car's infotainment system and its apps in the same way as they do on their linked smartphone. Devices from companies like Samsung, LG, HTC and Sony, will be compatible with the system. Volkswagen adds that the MIB II system will also be compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.