Quick Answer: Performance Monitor is a free car diagnostics app available via AAAD that displays real-time engine data including RPM, speed, oil temperature, and battery voltage directly on your Android Auto head unit. It works natively on VAG cars (VW, Skoda, Seat, Audi with MIB2 units) and on other cars via Torque Pro with an OBD2 Bluetooth dongle. The app is community-built and no longer actively maintained since March 2020, but remains functional and is distributed through AAAD.

Last updated: July 24, 2026

Detail	Info
App name	Performance Monitor (mqb-pm)
Based on	Martoreto's open-source aa-stats project
Available via	AAAD (free)
Root required	No
Best for	VAG cars (VW, Skoda, Seat, Audi with MIB2 units)
Non-VAG cars	Works via Torque Pro + OBD2 Bluetooth dongle
Data displayed	RPM, speed, oil temp, coolant temp, battery voltage, turbo pressure (where available)
Maintenance status	Abandoned. Last release March 2020. No active support.
GitHub stars	285 stars. 110 forks.

Performance Monitor is a free car diagnostics application available via AAAD that displays real-time engine data, RPM, speed, oil temperature, and more directly on your Android Auto head unit. It works natively on VAG cars (VW, Skoda, Seat, Audi) and functions on other vehicles via Torque Pro combined with an OBD2 dongle. This is a community-built application and is no longer actively maintained by the original developer, with its last official release occurring in March 2020.

What Is Performance Monitor?

Based on Martoreto's open-source aa-stats project, Performance Monitor is a dedicated application that displays live in-car telematics directly on your Android Auto screen. The application aggregates information from different data sources, including the native VAG exlap channel and Torque Pro, which allows it to work for practically any other car brand. Despite being unmaintained since 2020, the GitHub repository has accumulated 285 stars and 110 forks, reflecting genuine community demand for this type of diagnostics display on Android Auto.

Performance Monitor is an official part of the AAAD app lineup. The AAHacks blog confirms it alongside CarStream, Fermata Auto, AA Mirror Plus, and AA Passenger as one of the apps AAAD distributes for Android Auto. You do not need to find or sideload the APK, AAAD handles the download and install in one tap, the same way it does for every other app in its library.

It features an intuitive OEM-themed UI that provides specific backgrounds and visual styles for VW, Seat, and Skoda. You can also take advantage of a dedicated stopwatch and laptimer mode for 0-100kmh and 402m timing metrics. Because Google actively restricts custom diagnostic applications, this tool is not available on the Google Play Store. You will need a third-party installer to get performance monitor android auto running on your vehicle display.

Does Performance Monitor Work on Your Car?

Compatibility depends entirely on your vehicle and infotainment unit. Here is how the two main setups compare:

Setup	Data Source	OBD2 Dongle Needed	Reliability
VAG car with MIB2 unit (VW, Skoda, Seat, Audi)	Native exlap channel	No	Best. Native integration, confirmed working on 12 specific MIB2 firmware versions
Any other car	Torque Pro only	Yes (Bluetooth)	Variable. Depends on what data your car exposes

VAG cars with MIB2 infotainment units get native data through the exlap channel without any OBD2 dongle. The app has confirmed working firmware versions for VW, Skoda, and Seat MIB2 units. The full list is on the GitHub repository. If you have a newer MIB3 unit, the exlap channel is not available at all, meaning Torque Pro is the only option.

For non-VAG cars, the application pulls data via Torque Pro paired with an OBD2 Bluetooth adapter. Results vary significantly because some vehicles do not expose ECU data to the android auto obd2 interface. Community testing has confirmed working setups on the Alfa Romeo Giulia using a VLinker MS adapter and the Subaru Outback via Torque Pro. Perfect compatibility on every car out of the box is not guaranteed.

What Data Can It Display?

When properly configured, the application acts as a comprehensive real-time dashboard. It can display your vehicle RPM, vehicle speed, battery voltage, oil temperature, and coolant temperature. Depending on your vehicle setup and engine type, you might also see active turbo pressure readings.

Data visibility depends entirely on what your car actually exposes to the system. Not all cars report all data types. Oil and coolant temperatures below 50 degrees are usually not reported by the car system. Turbo pressure is relatively rare and only works on cars that explicitly expose it to the OBD interface. You can also track your acceleration using the built-in stopwatch mode for 0-100kmh and 402m timing.

What Do I Need Before Installing Performance Monitor?

Getting this application to run correctly requires a few prerequisites. First, you must enable Android Auto Developer Mode by tapping the About Android Auto header ten times in settings. This allows you to enable Unknown Sources in your Android Auto developer settings, which is mandatory for running non-Play Store applications.

Next, you need AAAD installed on your mobile device to download the package. For VAG cars, you will also need to manually install the free aauto-vex-vag APK from Martoreto's GitHub repository to enable the exlap communication channel. For non-VAG cars, you need Torque Pro from the Google Play Store and a compatible OBD2 Bluetooth adapter. Exact install steps may vary depending on your Android version. Follow the prompts within AAAD after selecting Performance Monitor.

What Are the Known Limitations of Performance Monitor?

This application is unsupported since 2020, meaning existing bugs may not get fixed by the original developer. The developer confirmed this directly: jilleb, the original maintainer, stated on the project's GitHub page: "I am no longer maintaining the app and will not provide any support anymore." This is important context before installing. Community workarounds exist but no official fixes will come.

A well-documented issue is a black screen of death on some cars for unknown reasons. Some cars provide no ECU data regardless of setup. Users with Huawei or Honor devices commonly experience the black screen issue, which sometimes requires clearing the Android Auto application cache.

Community reports describe the application as a bit flaky when using Torque data. It is highly recommended to launch Torque Pro on your phone before opening the app on your car screen. Compatibility with the latest Android Auto versions is not officially documented. Community reports suggest it works on some setups but results vary. Check the GitHub issues page for the latest findings.

For users who need broader car compatibility with active maintenance, aa-torque is a community fork with wider Torque integration, though AAAD only distributes the original version.

Is It Safe to Install?

Yes. The application is open source and its code is fully transparent on GitHub. AAAD distributes the application directly from this same GitHub source, ensuring no malicious modifications are added. It shares the same safety profile as other applications in the AAAD ecosystem. Is AAAD safe? covers this in detail. The application only reads data and will not tune or modify your engine in any way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an OBD2 adapter?

For most non-VAG cars, yes. The application requires a source for telemetry data, usually provided by a Bluetooth OBD2 dongle plugged into your car's diagnostic port and paired with Torque Pro. VAG cars with MIB2 units do not need an OBD2 dongle.

Will this void my warranty?

No. The application only reads data from your car's computer. It does not make any permanent changes or tune the engine.

Can I install this directly from the Google Play Store?

No. Google actively blocks custom diagnostic apps for Android Auto. You need to use AAAD to install it.

Why is my screen black?

A black screen of death can happen on some cars for unknown reasons. Huawei and Honor devices are specifically prone to this due to bugs in their ROMs. Clearing the Android Auto app cache may help. If the issue persists, your car may not be compatible with the app.

Conclusion

Performance Monitor fills a real gap for VAG drivers and OBD2 enthusiasts who want detailed diagnostics on their car screen without expensive hardware. While it requires initial setup and comes with honest limitations as an unsupported community project, it remains the only way to get live engine telemetry directly on your Android Auto display. Download AAAD to get started.

Performance Monitor on Android Auto: What It Does and How to Get It via AAAD