Android Auto projection certification and AAOS (Android Automotive OS) native cockpit — similar names, completely different paths. I've seen too many manufacturers blindly apply AAOS requirements like MADA, GAS, and CTS to projection products, adding hundreds of thousands in licensing costs and half a year to the timeline for no reason. This article breaks it down so you can dodge those traps.
Android Auto projection is straightforward: your phone connects to the car's display and the head unit acts as a monitor. No GMS installation, no MADA agreement, no Android complete machine CTS. Linux, QNX, Android — doesn't matter. The head unit bottom layer has no Android version requirement.
AAOS is a different animal. It's Google's native automotive operating system running Android on the head unit itself. That's the one that needs MADA licensing, GAS (Google Automotive Services), and CTS-on-GSI
complete machine
testing.
These two paths are completely independent. Don't apply AAOS thresholds to your aftermarket projection box.
1.1 What Qualification Does Projection Certification Actually Need?
A valid Google Partner Portal account.
That's it.
OEM and AAOS manufacturers face heavier review — complete business materials, 2-3 weeks. Aftermarket projection boxes and aftermarket head units have a much lower bar. No product roadmap document needed, and approval comes through in under a week. Many aftermarket folks don't know this and end up waiting two extra weeks for nothing.
1.2 MADA and GAS Have Nothing to Do with Projection
MADA is the cooperation agreement for phone manufacturers to pre-install GMS. GAS is the automotive services package license for AAOS.
Your projection head unit is neither a phone nor an AAOS cockpit — neither applies.
If a supplier quotes you MADA pricing, check your product category first.
2. Four Core Technical Documents for Submission
Get these ready for testing. Google reviewers check version numbers and parameters item by item — no cutting corners.
2.1 Product Specification Document
Head unit main controller chip model, screen resolution and size, RAM and ROM capacity, USB port type and version. USB ports must support OTG/Host mode — 2.0 works fine, 3.x is no problem. Type-A ports need a dedicated OTG adapter cable; plugging a phone directly won't work.
Phone-side requirements are separate — don't apply them to the head unit. Wired connections require Android 5.0+ on the phone. Wireless requires Android 11+. On the head unit side: Linux, QNX, Android — genuinely any OS works.
2.2 Software Version Information Sheet
Android Auto APK version, Google Play Services version, Google Maps and Google Assistant versions, head unit Launcher version. The versions actually running on the sample must match the submission documents. R&D-stage draft placeholders will get flagged and sent back for correction — but there's a supplemental modification channel, not an outright rejection.
2.3 User Interface Screenshots and Feature Descriptions
High-resolution screenshots of the six core interfaces, with feature descriptions for each. Buttons must be at least 24dp, touch targets at least 76dp. Note: this only applies to functions interactive while driving. Static settings interfaces in park mode can have relaxed dimensions.
It's not a blanket 24dp/76dp rule across every button on the head unit. Many teams get this wrong.
Night mode syncing with headlights, navigation and media split-screen layout — these are also review focus points.
2.4 Compatibility Test Report
Projection products run PCTS/CTS-Auto — the projection compatibility suite. That's it.
You don't run Android complete machine CTS. CTS and CTS-on-GSI are AAOS native cockpit requirements — not your concern. I've seen a client run a full CTS report taking three weeks, only for Google to say it wasn't needed.
3. Vehicle Peripheral and Sensor Documents
3.1 Audio Subsystem Configuration
Audio DSP chip model, audio routing strategy, independent media and navigation volume control scheme, steering wheel control key mapping. If Google Assistant wake-up is supported, microphone count and positioning layout must be submitted.
3.2 GPS and Positioning Module
GPS chip model, antenna type, cold start time. Don't be spooked by the "must acquire positioning within 5 seconds" claim online — Google doesn't have this as a hard threshold. TTFF cold start is too environment-dependent to be a single pass/fail metric.
The review focuses on two things: vehicle speed signal stability, and positioning data transmission link reliability.
3.3 Vehicle Data Channel
4G/5G cellular module model, carrier compatibility list, or Wi-Fi hotspot connection scheme.
Wireless projection prefers 5GHz channels. Compliant 2.4GHz standalone also works.
One thing many teams get backwards: in wireless Android Auto scenarios, DFS channels are disabled — not required. DFS randomly frequency-hops, which breaks the projection stream. Google requires a minimum 32Mbps bandwidth for a single projection stream. There's no "50Mbps multi-device" mandatory metric. Don't believe it.
4. User Documentation and Compliance Declaration
4.1 User Manual Android Auto Section
A standalone chapter covering both wired USB and wireless Wi-Fi connection methods, listing supported and unsupported features, plus common troubleshooting steps. Google cares about one thing: can the vehicle owner figure out connectivity issues on their own? A beautifully written manual doesn't matter if it doesn't serve that purpose.
4.2 National Compliance Declaration
Target market country list, per-country feature support matrix, and restricted country feature reduction plan.
Domestic compliance rules mean new vehicles in China don't ship with Android Auto pre-installed. But head units and aftermarket projection products built for export can still get AA certification for markets outside mainland China. GCC Gulf states allow it — comply with local RF regulations and you're fine. It's not banned.
For Android Auto certification document checklist and more, contact BlueAsia technical testing and certification consultant at 13534225140 (king) or king.guo@cblueasia.com
Related News
