"Pure" Android Auto Head Unit?

[ptonantryloc]

I'm just starting to look into Android Auto. But, it looks to me like the head units on sale are full head units that also work with Android Auto. Are any of these head unit manufacturers planning to build a "pure" Android Auto head unit? IOW, basically a screen that will connect to the phone running Android Auto on one side and the car's existing infrastructure (microphone, speakers, whatever else there might be) on the other side. At the individual level, I can't see the point of having a full-featured head unit if my phone is more than capable of doing all the processing. Of course, from a manufacturer's point of view, I can see they'd want a device that can be used by the biggest percentage of the population possible.

 

[Phil Nickinson]

The short version is no, because of safety regulations.

 

[hg1027]

Also, if they include a radio and a DVD player and Bluetooth and USB drive and aux in, your mom/friend/person who buys your car later can use it as expected. I used a tablet as a head unit for almost 6 months, and not having fm radio, having my wife refuse to take the car, my iPhone loving brother giving me grief every time he got in it, no way to play DVD or cd or plug in a friend's phone without bluetoothing it, just not worth it.