Android Auto is still languishing behind CarPlay by about a 10 to 1 or 10 to 2 ratio in favor of CarPlay for many retailers.
Android Auto is harder to demonstrate, and tends to fail to connect to smartphones, even those designated Android Auto-ready. And consumers tend not to ask for it, while many are asking for Apple CarPlay.
But one recent car deck has helped sales, according to some retailers. Sony’s XAV-AX100 has knee capped the price of Android Auto from $649 to $499 (while also reducing CarPlay’s entry price from $599). And for some, that price drop is enough to make Android Auto a good buy.
“It’s our most popular radio now,” said Eric Carter, Cartronix, IN of the AX100. 919 Motoring, NC called the deck a “home run,” and others agreed it has helped generate Android Auto sales.
Sony says the deck, which launched around December last year, has become its best selling radio by gross dollars. Additionally, the XAV-AX100 has been picked up by Best Buy for merchandising in all stores, so sales of the unit are likely to double, said Sony.
The XAV-AX100, an AV receiver with a 6.4-inch screen, lacks a DVD player and SiriusXM capability, which Sony expects to add later this year in a second unit.
As for Android Auto, one of its main drawback seems to be it doesn’t demo easily. You plug in the phone and CarPlay pops up instantly, but for Android Auto, a demo requires many steps, which can turn off the customer.
Plus a number of dealers who tried working with Android Auto early on found it didn’t work and then were reluctant to push it. Handcrafted Audio, AZ said it installed it in a few customers cars who had Android Auto-ready phones and it still didn’t work.
“When you plug in with CarPlay it works instantly. With Android Auto, there’s 15 steps first. You download an app, you are asked, ‘do you want to accept this connection,’ it turns people off,” said Carter of Cartronix.
Some dealers are having more success. Soundz Plus said about a third of his installations are Android Auto compared to CarPlay. And Car Audio Express, CA said its CarPlay to Android Auto sales ratio is 10 to 4.
“I haven’t had an issue with Android Auto as long as the phone is 5.0 or above. We started selling it from the beginning,” said Bashir Assi of Car Audio Express.
i am calling out the manufacturers. i suggest that we, the installing retailers decline the installation of
product not bought from us, the retailer. teach the manufu*turers a distribution lesson.
g.
Good luck with that. Too many dealers struggling way to hard out there to turn down labor, not to mention garage installers popping up left and right who would be happy to install them. Don’t get me wrong I’d be all for some kind of stand but I just don’t think it’s realistic.