Android Automotive is not to be confused with Android Auto. While both provide a range of mapping and in-car entertainment functions, while Android Auto is powered by your phone and is projected onto the car's display, Android Automotive runs on the vehicle's own processor. The benefit of having this built-in system is that the system can not only control your entertainment but also many of the car's own features.

Link: Android Automotive review: the future of car entertainment
via http://www.t3.com