Motorola MA1: Small adapter enables wireless Android car use

If you want to use your Android smartphone in the car, you usually have to connect it with a cable. Only a few car models support wireless use of Android Auto ex works. However, this is now remedied by the new Motorola MA1, which enables wireless Android Auto use in all vehicles.

Motorola MA1: Wireless Car Adapter for Android Auto

Unlike its Apple counterpart CarPlay, Android Auto requires a cable when connecting to a smartphone. Once connected, the user’s own device can then be used, for example, for navigation, music streaming and messaging via the multimedia system available in the car.

With the Motorola MA1 adapter, a well-known manufacturer is now expanding the lineup of little helpers that enable wireless Android Auto use. So far, the manufacturers AAWireless and Carsifi have offered corresponding solutions.

The MA1 has a USB-A port that is connected to the car. This then connects wirelessly to the smartphone, which is then recognized and used with Android Auto.

The smartphone and Motorola MA1 connect via Bluetooth 5.0, and the black dongle, which weighs just 31 grams, also supports WLAN in the 5 GHz band. According to the manufacturer, the adapter is compatible with most vehicles that support Android Auto, as well as with most smartphones running the Google operating system from Android 11 or higher.

Only vehicles from Mitsubishi Motors are incompatible, according to Motorola. Here the radio adapter cannot be used. After initial setup, the MA1 should then automatically establish a wireless connection unless removed from the USB port.

Price and availability

The Motorola MA1 adapter is listed on the manufacturer’s product page with a price of 89.95 euros, where pre-registration is also possible. However, only via a support form. The market launch in the U.S. is scheduled for February 2022, but it is not yet clear if and when the MA1 will be available in Europe.