Key Points
- XPeng has announced native Google Play integration for its cars, scheduled to go live in early 2027.
- Google Play adds hundreds of car-optimised apps from more than 100 countries across music, video, navigation, charging, parking and gaming.
- It builds on Google Maps Auto SDK, which the XPeng L03, announced last month, is the first model to feature.
XPeng has expanded its collaboration with Google, announcing a native Google Play integration for its AI-powered cockpits. The app store is scheduled to go live in early 2027.
The integration gives drivers phone-optional access to hundreds of car-optimised apps. XPeng said it will confirm participating vehicle models, markets and app availability in due course.
XPeng is not the first to offer Google Play in a car. Polestar, Volvo and Renault already sell models in Australia with Google built-in, which bundles Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play. Nissan is also adopting it on the new Leaf and Ariya.
What Google Play brings to XPeng
Google Play combines hundreds of third-party apps from more than 100 countries with XPeng's intelligent cockpit capabilities. XPeng said the catalogue spans music and podcasts, video streaming, navigation, charging and parking, news, gaming while parked, and everyday lifestyle services.
Apps are built for the car screen and tailored to individual markets. Built on Android Automotive OS, the store works with XPeng's multilingual AI voice assistant, so drivers can open and interact with downloaded apps hands-free. Because developers publish updates through Google Play, XPeng said the in-car experience will keep evolving without major full-vehicle OTA updates.
Builds on Google Maps
The integration follows XPeng's Google Maps Auto SDK work, announced in July 2026. That introduced a refreshed navigation experience and provided foundational map data for the brand's advanced driver-assistance systems in overseas markets.
The L03, announced in Australia last month, is the first XPeng model to feature that Google Maps integration. It runs Google Maps data inside XPeng's own XOS 6.0 interface, so drivers do not need to mirror a phone. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remain standard.
What XPeng and Google said
Dr Xianming Liu, Vice President of XPeng and Head of General Intelligence Centre, described the deal as a natural extension of the Google Maps work.
“The best technology partnerships build momentum,” Liu said. “Our work with Google Maps demonstrated what our two companies can achieve together to integrate global technologies into a distinctive intelligent vehicle experience. With Google Play, we are extending that approach from navigation to the wider digital ecosystem.”
Haris Ramic, Android for Cars Product Director at Google, said the move gives drivers “even more choice to enjoy the entertainment and everyday apps they love right from their dashboard, with no phone required.”
What is still unconfirmed
XPeng has not confirmed which vehicle models or markets will receive Google Play first, or which apps will be available. The company said app availability may vary by vehicle model and applicable safety requirements, and Australian timing has not been announced.
The announcement continues a busy period for XPeng locally, following the reveal of the seven-seat G9L and the Mona L05 tease, a Tesla Model Y rival due in Australia in Q1 2027.
About the author
Danny is a consultant and entrepreneur working at the cutting edge of the electric vehicle and energy transition. He is passionate about educating and helping consumers make better decisions through data.
