Local TTS on Android Auto via VLC and Piper TTS
Hi everyone,
After several iterations, I've put together a working solution to play
text-to-speech notifications through car speakers via Android Auto,
using only local components - no cloud, no Google Assistant.
Key features
Fully local TTS with Piper (no cloud dependency)- Works with any vehicle supporting Android Auto
- Privacy-friendly - no data sent to external services
- Reliable audio routing to car speakers (not phone speaker)
- Tested on Mercedes-Benz with wireless Android Auto
How it works
The solution uses VLC as a bridge: Home Assistant generates TTS audio
via Piper, then sends a VLC intent to the phone with the audio file URL.
Android Auto recognizes VLC as a media source and routes audio to car speakers.
Complete guide on GitHub
I've documented the full solution with step-by-step installation,
validation tests at each stage, and a troubleshooting guide:
The repository includes:
- Detailed installation instructions
- Ready-to-use example files (scripts, automations)
- Validation tests for each component
- Known limitations and how to handle them
- Vehicle compatibility notes
Known limitations
The previous audio source (radio, Spotify, etc.) does not auto-resume
after TTS finishes. Android Auto replaces the audio source rather than
pausing it. A manual tap on the radio/music app is needed to resume.
This is acceptable for critical notifications (fuel alerts, security, etc.)
but may not suit frequent non-critical messages.
Looking for feedback
If you test this solution on a different vehicle, I'd love to hear:
- Car make/model/year
- Connection type (wired/wireless)
- Audio source behavior (auto-resume or not)
- Any quirks or issues
This will help build community compatibility data.
Feedback and improvements welcome!