Android Auto is finally receiving a live, color-changing speedometer in Google Maps after years of user requests. The feature appears next to the speed limit indicator and shifts color when drivers exceed the posted limit, allowing quick speed checks without prolonged distraction.

The rollout is currently limited to select Google Maps beta users on version 26.29.02.946673643, with reports from Canada and Reddit confirming a server-side release. Notably, the speedometer has long existed on Android phones and arrived on Apple CarPlay in 2024, making its absence on Android Auto a puzzling gap.

Google emphasizes the display is a reference tool, not a replacement for the vehicle's built-in speedometer. The update arrives alongside broader navigation improvements, including immersive 3D Maps, enhanced lane guidance, and clearer highway interchange visuals. While welcome, the delay highlights Google's tendency to prioritize flashy features over practical quality-of-life upgrades. Android Central's Jay Bonggolto notes the update deserves a "finally" more than a "yay," appreciating the safety benefit but wishing Google matched its pace for practical features with that of experimental add-ons.