Xpeng brings Google Play into cars: Hundreds of apps without a smartphone from 2027

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Xpeng brings Google Play into cars: Hundreds of apps without a smartphone from 2027.

If you're sitting in a Xpeng, you may already have wondered: Where is the regular app store? Spotify, podcasts, navigation apps, little helpers for on the go – standard in most modern cars, but until now a gap at Chinese EV maker Xpeng. That gap is now being closed, and quite decisively: Google Play is coming directly into the cockpit, without detouring through your smartphone.

Xpeng announced this on Thursday, October 15. Starting early 2027, Xpeng vehicles are set to get access to the Google Play Store – with hundreds of applications running natively in the infotainment system. The feature will roll out in more than 100 countries and regions, essentially covering the entire global markets where Xpeng sells cars at all.

What exactly did Xpeng announce?

Specifically, it's about integrating the full Google Play Store into the vehicle's onboard operating system. That means: you can install and use apps directly on the central display, without your phone having to get involved via cable, Bluetooth, or Android Auto. This isn't just a handful of hand-picked applications, but – according to the announcement – hundreds of apps, an ecosystem similar to what you know from your Android phone or tablet.

Importantly, availability is not limited to a home market. Xpeng explicitly speaks of a global rollout strategy across 100 countries. That's noteworthy because Google services usually play a bit-part role in the Chinese market – for Xpeng's international appearance, the Google Play integration is thus a clear signal towards Western and Asian markets outside China.

Why this is a real upgrade

Until now, the app offering in many Chinese EVs was more of a homegrown affair: in-house stores, regional providers, much of it only ran via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto through the phone. Xpeng drivers had to either make do with the in-car system or dock their smartphone. With Google Play, that double bookkeeping is over.

For you concretely, that means: you can use exactly the apps in the car you're used to from your phone – and without the phone even needing to be nearby. Navigation, music streaming, news, charging apps, perhaps also games or productivity tools for the charging stop. All through the car's touchscreen, with the computing power of the onboard system.

What you should know now

The announcement names early 2027 as the launch date – that's still over a year out. Whether the update comes via over-the-air to already-delivered vehicles or is only available in new models is not clear from the current communication. There's also no detail yet on whether certain Xpeng models are excluded.

What is clear: Xpeng is positioning itself more strongly against Western competitors like Tesla, Volvo, or the Polestar models with Google Built-in – and is turning a previous weak spot in its own line-up into a non-issue. So if you're considering getting a Xpeng in the coming months, it's worth keeping an eye on the rollout. Early 2027 will show whether the promises actually hold up in practice.

Source: Frandroid