Google has long run an Android Auto beta program, but joining it was almost impossible earlier. Those who tried to take part often got an error message that said the program was maxed out. Google is expanding the program, giving anyone with an Android device and a willingness to put up with bugs the opportunity to test the platform's latest features before they're available to the public.

"As a beta tester, you can help us build a better version of Android Auto. You can test how well new features work with your specific phone and vehicle in your part of the world," Google says of the initiative on a support page. "When you share your feedback, we'll use it to help plan improvements for future releases."

Android Auto has had a testing program, but attempting to sign up for it has shown a message warning that the program had reached its “maximum number of testers.”

The announcement of the new beta program comes as Android Auto has just gone through one of its biggest expansions in years when it launched in dozens of new countries at the end of 2020. Its wireless connectivity feature also recently got a big boost with news that any Android 11 phone would be able to connect wirelessly to compatible vehicles. Considering these enhancements, it’s not surprising that Google needs more beta testers.

With Google inching closer to the official release of Android 12, the company likely wants to avoid a repeat of last year's Android 11 release. While the operating system was buggy as a whole at release, Android Auto suffered from some particularly rough bugs. There were numerous audio issues and missing apps. In some instances, the software was also known to 'soft-brick' devices like the Pixel 3 XL.  So it's no surprise Google wants more help testing the software.

Google notes that you can't have two versions of Android Auto on your device, so the stable version will be replaced with the beta. It also comes with the usual disclaimer about features potentially not working properly, which is par for the course for any beta.