BYD has quickly become a well-known brand in the EV community in Australia. Its Atto 3 is one of the very few cars to have over-the-air (OTA) updates that improve the in-car experience.
Australian and New Zealand owners of the Atto 3 are starting to report a new update with the Android Auto feature included.
Android Auto is very common in many new vehicles allowing users to have maps and other apps on their phone to be mirrored onto the screen of the car.
One BYD “Top Contributor” owner on the BYD EV Owners Australia Facebook group said: “It seems like V1.5 OTA update rollout has begun, so it’s time to make this post.”
Several owners in New Zealand also confirmed this with one saying: “I have the 1.5 now…”
Google describes Android Auto on their official play store as a “smart driving companion that helps you stay focused, connected, and entertained with the Google Assistant. With a simplified interface, large buttons, and powerful voice actions, Android Auto is designed to make it easier to use apps that you love from your phone while you’re on the road.”
On top of adding Google Maps, a voice assistant on the steering wheel can also be used to say voice commands.
As an example commands like “Navigate to the Melbourne” can be used straight from the button on the steering wheel.
The newest update comes on top of the over-the-air updates BYD started rolling out late last year These have improved the driving and ownership experience since The Driven first tested the Atto 3 back in August 2022.
Since the launch of the Atto 3, the car has received several updates. The first OTA update back in September included basic maps and the music app, Spotify.
Earlier this year, BYD also added Apple Carplay to the vehicle as well so now the BYD Atto 3 is covering both areas.
BYD also launched a smartphone app for Android users back in March this year. The app allowed owners to perform a number of functions, including:
- Check vehicle range and power level.
- Check the tire pressure of the vehicle.
- Check whether the doors and windows of the vehicle are close
Sneak peek into the latest OTA update on the Atto 3 on EVs & Beyond NZ YouTube channel.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.
