Google has officially phased out Assistant Driving Mode in Google Maps as part of the ongoing Gemini transition. The company confirmed that this feature, which debuted in 2019, underwent several changes before its complete removal, including significant functionality loss in February 2024.
Initially, Driving Mode functioned as an app dashboard crucial for enhancing the driving experience, but it eventually became limited to just a media control bar and a voice assistant button. By early 2024, the app launcher that featured user-friendly icons tailored for use while driving was eliminated.
The remaining version of Assistant Driving Mode primarily catered to Android users without Android Auto-enabled vehicles, providing a similar utility. It’s worth noting that Driving Mode was originally envisioned as an alternative to Android Auto for phones, which was discontinued back in 2021.
The transition aligns with a broader initiative in 2024, when Google started announcing several removals from the Assistant feature set. They explained that while the app launcher allowed users to read and send messages, make calls, and control media, voice control in Google Maps would still be functional, albeit with fewer features.
As of now, even the minimal playback controls and voice assistance options that were once part of Assistant Driving Mode have been eliminated from Google Maps. Google characterized the removal as an intentional step within the Gemini transition, indicating that this feature is gone for good.
Announced in March 2025, this transition will see most mobile devices replacing Assistant with Gemini as part of the company’s strategic evolution.