Google's October Update Gives Car Makers a Paintbrush, and I Have Mixed Feelings About It
Google dropped the October 2026 Google System Update a few days ago. Buried inside Google Play Services v26.39 is something that actually matters if you care about Android Automotive: OEM Design Tokens. Finally. Car manufacturers can consistently customize the color themes of Google apps running on their infotainment systems without having to hack together janky resource overrides that break on…
Google's October 2026 update for Android Automotive OS introduces OEM Design Tokens, a structured theming system for car manufacturers. This allows them to consistently customize the color themes of Google apps running on their infotainment systems without resorting to janky resource overrides. Before this update, manufacturers faced challenges in maintaining a consistent look for Google apps, either by using the default Material You colors which looked out of place or by creating their own color overrides that were prone to breaking with future Play Services updates.
The OEM Design Tokens consist of three components: a static library providing APIs to access OEM token values, a shared library defining the library name, an enable_oem_tokens boolean, and an OemStyle carrying the actual color values. Manufacturers can then create their own overrides of the shared library with their own package name and signing certificate.
The token values are defined in an OemStyle XML, allowing for customization of color themes. OEMs can also layer Runtime Resource Overlays (RROs) on top of this system to change token values dynamically, enabling features like switching color schemes based on driving modes.
While this update addresses a real problem and provides a structured way for manufacturers to customize Google apps, it also signifies Google's willingness to step back and grant OEMs control over the theming of their apps in cars. This approach contrasts with Google's usual preference for consistency across devices, reflecting the unique requirements of automotive design where the screen's appearance needs to match the physical dashboard and brand guidelines of the manufacturer.
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