The VW App Store – The Next Evolution in How Houston Drivers Will Access Apps

What to Expect and Which VW Apps Will Be Included Upon Rollout

It’s hard to imagine there was ever a time where cell phones did little else beyond making calls and texting. However, in 2008, Apple officially rolled out their app store, which forever changed the way that smartphone users accessed social media, business applications, streaming services, and games.

The app store provides streamlined solutions for connecting with friends, banking online, accessing video content, and so much more. Nearly every smartphone user in the country has access to the app store, so it only makes sense that this technology is expanding to a new frontier – our vehicles.

Volkswagen is slated to debut the VW App Store in their upcoming catalog of automobiles. Think of it like the app store you already know and love, but optimized for your VW vehicle with its own distinct look and feel. By combining the new app store with the myVW app (formerly VW Car-Net), drivers will have access to more entertainment and convenience features than ever before.

Upgrading From App-Connect

Before we dig into the details of what will be featured in the new VW app store, it’s helpful to discuss the current technology being used. App-Connect – more commonly known as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – is the in-car technology that allows drivers to integrate their smartphones with their vehicles.

The software enables drivers to install their favorite third-party apps so that they’re accessible through their vehicle’s touchscreen console. Music streaming apps, navigation, contacts, messages, voice assistant, and so forth can all be selected to appear. However, other third-party apps that aren’t driver-friendly or compatible with the software will not.

This means that App-Connect users must go through a process of finding out which apps work and which ones don’t. Further, not every app is optimized to function with App-Connect, which may result in functionality and display issues.

How the VW App Store Improves Upon App-Connect

One of the big pain points the VW App Store will address are the compatibility issues some third-party apps have. Each app is optimized to work on the touchscreen console included in your VW vehicle. Additionally, drivers can finally stop playing the guessing game of which apps are included and which ones aren’t. Any app featured in the VW App Store can be accessed immediately.

Crowd favorites like Yelp, Spotify, and TikTok are confirmed to roll-out during the initial launch. Of course, some apps – most notably, TikTok – will be limited to content consumption to mitigate unsafe driving practices and distracted driving. The VW App Store will feature several categories of apps, including:

• Music/podcasting
• Video conferencing
• Weather
• Parking info
• EV charging station locations
• News
• Gaming

The VW App Store will roll out on every brand in the Volkswagen Group of vehicles, which includes Porsche, Bentley, Audi, and more. The app store will have a slightly different look and feel across the different brands, but the functionality and apps available should remain consistent.

Although there hasn’t been an official announcement about which upcoming Volkswagen vehicles will feature the in-car VW App Store, it’s likely that the all-electric ID lineup will be among the first to offer it. Additionally, there’s a possibility that VW will provide a software update to make the new app store available for current vehicles.

A Quick Refresher of myVW App

Within the past two years, VW Car-Net became the myVW app. The overall concept remains the same – a suite of remote features, services, and helpful reminders that make VW vehicle ownership easy and convenient.

The myVW app includes:

• A feature that shows where the vehicle was last parked; this feature comes in handy at theme parks, stadiums, and parking garages.
• Parking assistance through Parkopedia®.
• Remote start, lock/unlock, and cabin climate control.
• Amazon Alexa sync.
• A feature that lets drivers put in roadside assistance requests.
• A section for vehicle service reminders and history.
• A section for scheduling service appointments at your local VW service center.

Buyers of late model VW vehicles get five years of access to the myVW app as part of their Carefree Coverage warranty package.

Ready to Test Drive a New VW? Visit Volkswagen Clear Lake in Houston!

Now that you’re up to speed on the VW App Store and the myVW app, the next step is to explore the automaker’s cars and SUVs in person. As one of the leading new vehicle dealers in Houston, VW Clear Lake has a Volkswagen to suit any driving style, storage needs, and family dynamic.

We have the award-winning all-electric 2023 VW ID.4, the large and in charge VW Atlas, and the sleek and elegant VW Arteon, just to name a few. To see our full selection of new and used vehicles, visit VW Clear Lake at 15100 Gulf Fwy in Houston.

Reach out to us by phone at (832) 432-7969 or email us using the contact form on our website for questions or to set an appointment. We’ll be happy to walk you through the finer points of any of our VW vehicles during your test drive.

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