Motorola and Google are investigating a software bug that prevents drivers from making phone calls through Android Auto when their foldable smartphone remains closed. Reports on community platforms indicate that the system displays the contact details correctly but fails to complete the outbound call unless the user physically unfolds the device.
Gemini Assistant Linked to Call Failure
User reports across Reddit and official support forums highlight a connection between the calling failure and the recent integration of Google Gemini. According to affected drivers, attempting to dial out via Android Auto while the phone is folded results in an incomplete action. Workarounds shared by users suggest that disabling Gemini and switching back to the legacy Google Assistant restores normal calling functionality, regardless of whether the phone is open or closed.
The issue has been observed across multiple devices, including Motorola's Razr series such as the Moto Razr Ultra 2025. While initial feedback questioned whether early builds of Android 16 caused the malfunction, current user reports pinpoint the interaction between closed-state foldable hardware and Gemini's active assistant state as the primary common factor.
Ongoing Technical Response
Both Google and Motorola are actively monitoring user feedback on official forums and reaching out to affected owners to gather technical diagnostics. Neither company has provided a formal timeline for a patch, leaving users to rely on temporary workarounds like keeping their devices open or reverting assistant settings while driving.
This incident adds to a series of recent software anomalies impacting the platform. Android Auto previously faced user interface bugs involving missing signal strength icons in version 16.5 and visual display freezing issues on Pixel 10 hardware upon vehicle connection.
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Source: Closed foldables cause Android Auto calls to fail: Moto and Google are investigating

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