{
  "id": 7833821,
  "title": "Android Auto update lets you customize your Google Maps ‘driving avatar’ via car display",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/android-auto-update-lets-you-customize-your-google-maps-driving",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-16T17:25:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "9to5Google",
    "slug": "9to5google",
    "url": "https://9to5google.com/2026/09/16/android-auto-google-maps-driving-avatar-update/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Google has released an update for Android Auto that enables users to customize their \"driving avatar\" directly from the car's display. This feature, previously available on both Android Auto and CarPlay, was previously set through the phone, but now the selection process can be carried out on the car's display. The update is part of Android Auto 17.8.163744 and Google Maps 26.38.01.980791571, though some users may not have seen the new option yet. It is expected to become available with this server-side update. The change includes a new \"driving avatar\" setting alongside options for home/work and alerts, allowing users to select and modify their avatar's color on the car's screen.",
  "summary": "Google is rolling out an update for Maps on Android Auto that gives users the ability to edit their “driving avatar” directly from the car’s display. more…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Android Authority",
        "title": "Android Auto is finally letting you ditch that boring blue arrow straight from your dashboard",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/android-auto-is-finally-letting-you-ditch-that-boring-blue-arrow",
        "published": "2026-09-16T07:00:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "XDA Developers",
        "title": "I gave up on wireless Android Auto because the convenience isn’t worth the headache",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/i-gave-up-on-wireless-android-auto-because-the-convenience-isnt-worth",
        "published": "2026-09-16T12:30:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Android Police",
        "title": "The 11-inch Android Auto wireless screen you've been waiting for just dropped to $109",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/the-11-inch-android-auto-wireless-screen-youve-been-waiting-for-just",
        "published": "2026-09-16T18:09:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}