Android Auto is well known for making it possible for users to access their smartphone through the car’s dashboard whereby you can make use of services like Google Maps, media apps, and do other things without necessarily needing to use your device.

Google has however offered the Android Auto via smartphone for those who don’t have the compatible dashboard unit. Google has also started working recently on an Assistant driving mode which was released this year – it will therefore become the replacement of Android Auto experience as it offers nearly the same sets of features of the older service and more.

The new Assistant Driving service will ship with the Android 12 update and according to a recent report confirmed by the media site 9to5Google, the search giant will fully take over from where Android Auto left off.

“For the people who use Android Auto in supported vehicles, that experience isn’t going away. For those who use the on-phone experience (Android Auto mobile app), they will be transitioned to Google Assistant driving mode. Starting with Android 12, Google Assistant driving mode will be the built-in mobile driving experience. We have no further details to share at this time.” the statement said.

In fact, some Pixel smartphone owners who are running Android 12 have reportedly started receiving notifications when trying to run the Android Auto application on their devices.

The notification made it known that Android Auto was now “only available for car screens” and recommended that they try the Google Assistant driving experience instead.

Given that the new Google Assistant experience will clearly be the focus going forward, switching over probably isn’t a big deal for most people. But if you don’t upgrade your phone to Android 12, you’ll be able to keep running the Android Auto app, at least for the time being.