The 9to5Google article, published on January 13, 2026, highlights significant user frustration regarding the declining performance of Google Assistant on Android Auto, coinciding with the gradual rollout of its successor, Gemini. Numerous Android Auto users have expressed their dismay across various online forums, including Reddit, over Google Assistant's increasing unreliability. Drivers frequently encounter unhelpful responses like "I didn't understand that" to even basic commands, and report failures in essential functions such as initiating navigation, making phone calls, or controlling music playback. This deterioration in the voice assistant's capabilities poses a significant safety risk, as users are compelled to divert their attention from the road to manually operate their car's touchscreen or their phones. Google officially announced the global rollout of Gemini for Android Auto in November 2025, stating it would arrive "over the coming months". However, as of early 2026, a substantial number of users are still awaiting the upgrade, leading to the perception that the rollout is "dragging on". Google aims for Gemini to become the default assistant for all Android Auto users by March 2026. While some early adopters of Gemini on Android Auto have noted its conversational improvements, others report new issues, such as less direct interaction with Android Auto apps and persistent dialogue after a task is completed. The article and corroborating reports suggest Google's development focus has shifted entirely to Gemini, leaving the legacy Assistant to "crumble". This ongoing transition period has created a frustrating and potentially hazardous limbo for a large segment of Android Auto users worldwide.