Global has announced a major advancement, bringing Global Player directly into car infotainment systems without needing to connect a smartphone. This follows its integration with BMW, the first manufacturer to offer the app within BMW and MINI vehicles.
Now, for the first time, Global Player is available on Android Automotive, a built-in operating system. Drivers of compatible cars can find the Global Player Automotive app in their vehicle’s app store, such as the BMW Connected Store or Google Play Store, across a range of leading car brands, including Volvo, Polestar, Nissan and Renault – with more launches ahead.
Listeners’ ability to access Global stations has never been easier, plus podcasts and playlists, all controlled through the car’s touchscreen or voice assistant.
We already know that “a fifth of the time spent listening to audio in cars is now to music streaming services and podcasts” (Ofcom, 2025). With apps like Global Player becoming available natively within infotainment systems, the trajectory for in-car audio appears to be shifting. As seen in Ofcom’s Audio Listening in the UK report last year, “While radio still provides the soundtrack to most of our car journeys, it faces competition from other audio, enabled by in-car technology.”
This isn’t just a product rollout, it’s a positioning move. As the car becomes a fully connected environment, securing a native presence now may define the next phase of in-car listening.
