Google Maps on Android Auto now displays ETA like other navigation apps

Users can now park vehicles in different locations and mark it on Google Map to receive step-by-step guidance back to their parked vehicle

Kate Mills - Mar 10, 2024

An undated image displaying Google Maps on a mobile phone in a car. — Unsplash

With Google Maps being the top navigation choice in the for Android Auto users, the search engine giant keeps refining the experience, as it has recently rolled out an extremely tweaked updated of the app that user won't even notice.

While coming after several years, the refinement has taken place into the design of the app, and more precisely, in the estimated time of arrival (ETA).

Google Maps latest update for Android Auto

Google has made changes to how the estimated time of arrival (ETA) is displayed on Google Maps for Android Auto. This update is aligned with the manner in which other platforms display the ETA on Android Auto.

On mobile devices, Google Maps uses a bold font to highlight the ETA when navigation is active. This helps differentiate the ETA from other information on the screen, making it easier for drivers to see the remaining travel time.

Previously, Android Auto used the same font for entire UI, blending the ETA with the rest of the UI. However, Google is reportedly rolling out a visual update to make the ETA bold on Android Auto, although this change may not be visible to all users immediately.

In addition to the ETA display update, Google is also introducing the ability to save parking locations in Google Maps while using navigation on Android Auto. This feature has been available to Android users for some time but was previously unavailable on Android Auto.

With this update, users can park their car in a different location and mark it on the map which allows them to receive step-by-step guidance back to their parked car using Google Maps on their mobile device.

Moreover, although this feature may not be available on all devices now, Google Maps on Android Auto is expected to receive a 3D building layer. While this new style has been spotted by some users, it has not been officially announced by Google. It means that further development may be needed before it is made available worldwide.