Google Maps Gets a Makeover for Polestar EVs with Seamless In-Car Integration

After years of visual mismatch in digital dashboards, Google Maps is finally getting a design upgrade to match carmakers’ unique UI aesthetics—starting with Polestar’s electric vehicles.

A More Harmonized Driving Experience

For a long time, navigation apps like Google Maps stuck out in infotainment systems, clashing with the carefully crafted design languages of car brands. But that’s changing now. Polestar has teamed up with Google to launch a customized version of Google Maps tailored specifically to match Polestar’s Scandinavian design language.

The new design ditches the traditional rounded corners and standard blue hues in favor of squared edges and Polestar’s signature orange accents, delivering a sleeker and more cohesive visual experience. This update is expected to roll out to all Polestar vehicles in the coming weeks.

Why This Matters: Safety & User Experience

In a vehicle cockpit, visual consistency isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about safety. A unified interface helps drivers focus better, reducing distractions and making key info easier to process at a glance. This seamless integration will allow Google Maps to look and feel like a native part of the Polestar system, improving usability without compromising functionality.

Android Automotive vs Android Auto

It’s worth noting that this update applies to Android Automotive OS, which runs directly on the car’s hardware. It’s different from Android Auto, which merely mirrors your phone’s interface. Android Automotive gives brands more customization power—but until now, that customization didn’t extend to apps like Maps.

This update marks a significant milestone, showing that Google is opening the door to UI customization for its own apps, letting automakers align them with their digital branding.

Polestar Leads the Way – Who’s Next?

Polestar, known for its minimalist and premium interface design, is the first automaker to implement these design tweaks for Google Maps. But it likely won’t be the last. With brands like Volvo, GM, Honda, and Renault also using Android Automotive, it’s reasonable to expect broader adoption of branded app interfaces in the near future.

For drivers, this could mean more intuitive dashboards, improved visual clarity, and an overall better in-car tech experience.