The 1996-founded MapQuest, recognized as the oldest commercially available web mapping service, has announced the launch of a beta version of its Android Auto integration. This move positions the app as a distinct alternative to dominant platforms like Google Maps and Apple Maps.
The decision to maintain the traditional name for Lake Ontario, rejecting pressure from President Donald Trump to alter the label, triggered significant public interest. While competitors adjusted their displays for U.S. users, MapQuest kept the 380-year-old designation. The company reported that this stance caused a dramatic spike in engagement, with usage rates increasing 50-fold and generating over 1.5 million app downloads. Consequently, the application topped the Apple App Store charts.
“Hundreds of thousands of people signaled to us this weekend that we got it right, by downloading our app,” Doug Berger, MapQuest’s general manager, stated in a press release. To capitalize on this momentum, the company is now making the Android Auto feature available via the Google Play Store.
Installing the beta requires users to download or update the MapQuest application on their Android devices and enroll in the beta program. Once connected to a vehicle through Bluetooth or a compatible USB cable, the MapQuest icon should appear on the dashboard. If it does not show up automatically, users can enable it manually by navigating to Settings, selecting Connected devices, choosing Android Auto, and checking the customization box for the launcher.
Preliminary feedback indicates that the software is still in an early developmental stage compared to polished offerings from Google or Apple. Users have reported issues including app crashes, sluggish response times, and voice navigation prompts that cut off mid-sentence. Additionally, certain real-time features are currently restricted to North America, covering only the United States and Canada.
Despite these quirks, the beta provides several key functionalities: turn-by-turn navigation, real-time traffic updates, route optimization, location searches for amenities like gas stations and EV chargers, saved favorites, voice search, speed limit displays, and crowdsourced incident reporting. Developers are actively issuing patches to address ongoing bugs.
For drivers seeking more stable immediate options, Waze, Sygic, and TomTom Go remain viable alternatives for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
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