Traditionally, automobile dashboards and center consoles have been the domain of buttons, dials and knobs. But, those mechanical devices are about to go the way of running boards, hood ornaments and rumble seats.

DETROIT—The Open Automotive Alliance, a consortium of automotive OEMs and technology providers like Google, has launched a new, automotive-specific operating system—Android Auto.

TOKYO—Automotive supplier Denso Corp. wants to form a research group with automakers and other suppliers to study driver stress.