How Will the New In-Car VW App Store Revolutionize Driving?

Breaking Down This New Tech and How it Will Work Alongside the myVW App

Current Volkswagen drivers know that their vehicles have no shortage of great tech. Everything from the intelligent driver safety features to the infotainment have been painstakingly developed to be the very best in the industry.

As the great Ricky Bobby says, “If you’re not first, you’re last.” VW is not in the business of shooting for second place.

It’s that kind of winning attitude that earned the VW ID.4 the World Car of the Year Award – impressive, considering it was the automaker’s first effort in the EV space. Volkswagen vehicles also appeared no less than six times on Car and Driver’s most recent editors’ choice list.

So, how does Volkswagen continue to revolutionize the automobile world? They deliver on everything that drivers expect, along with a few surprises they never see coming. One of those latest surprises is the new in-car VW app and app store that drivers will see in select upcoming Volkswagen models.

Not Your Typical App Store

Long time smartphone owners already know the drill. Both Apple and Android users have access to their own version of an app store where they can purchase games, access mobile versions of business software, and other convenient apps.

You can use apps to adjust the thermostat or lighting in your smart home. You can also use them to check the live video feed of your video doorbell system and pay your cable bill from the comfort of your couch. Essentially, mobile apps and an app store are intertwined with our daily lives, which is why it makes sense that Volkswagen would create a version specifically for their vehicles.

The VW App Store is the same concept as the mobile app store you’re already familiar with. The difference is that it will have a slightly different look, feel, and function to account for the different format – inside your vehicle.

TikTok, Yelp, Spotify and other popular third-party apps will be included with the initial roll-out; however, for an app like TikTok, users will be limited to content consumption. Content creation must be conducted through the original mobile version to ensure safe driving practices.

The VW App Store will also feature plenty of in-office functionalities for those individuals who need to work on the go. Anyone who’s ever had to take a conference call while driving to the airport will have a much easier time doing so with vehicle-optimized business apps.

Drivers should expect applications that cover the following categories in the upcoming VW App Store:

• Audio entertainment, for streaming music and podcasts
• Real-time parking info
• Electric vehicle charging station locations
• Gaming
• News and weather
• Smart home integration
• Telecommunications

The goal of the VW App Store is to make using software applications as easy to do in the car as they are on your smartphone. Additionally, these apps will be optimized for drivers to discourage unsafe driving practices. It’s expected that voice commands will play a significant role in app usage, not unlike Apple’s Siri and Amazon Alexa.

Where Can I Find the VW App Store?

Naturally, people want to know which Volkswagen vehicles they can expect the VW App Store to show up in. Nothing is confirmed as of yet, but knowing what we know about the ID lineup of VW vehicles suggests we will see it in the ID. Buzz, the ID.7, and future iterations of the ID.4. It’s also possible Volkswagen can add the app store to model years predating 2023 by updating their software package. Time will tell as the story develops.

How Is It Different from App-Connect and the myVW App?

For clarity, it’s worth pointing out that the myVW app (formerly known as VW Car-Net) and the upcoming VW App Store are not the same thing. The myVW app is a suite of remote features and services that come with late model Volkswagen vehicles as part of the Carefree Coverage warranty package. It includes things like managing roadside assistance requests, service history tracking, parking assistance, remote start and lock/unlock, and identifying the last parked location

App-Connect is a feature that enables drivers to integrate their Apple or Android smartphone with the main console of their VW vehicle. Using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, drivers will have access to all of their favorite apps, contacts, and messaging services.

How to Find a Volkswagen That Features the myVW App and More

Drivers who are interested in seeing sedans and SUVs that feature the myVW app should visit us at the VW SouthTowne dealership. We can walk you through some of our most popular new cars that have all the most recent technology and infotainment Volkswagen has to offer.

If you’re not yet in the market for a new vehicle, we also carry a variety of used cars and certified preowned vehicles with low mileage and warranty coverage. This means you can get a lot of the same technology featured in a new VW, but for a much lower monthly payment. Our in-house financing department can help you get preapproved for an auto loan today. Be sure to check out our specials for more great deals on VW products and services.

VW SouthTowne is located at 11000 South 290 West in Utah. Call us at (801) 988-5825 or email us using the contact form on our website.

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