[Android Head-Units] YR3:
Hello Everyone 👋

I have a Geely Tugella Model 2022 and I've tried various ways to enter the developer mode in the GKUI to no avail.

My HU (Head Unit) Info:​

System version: 0.2.9(61)

Hardware version: HW:V1.2

Firmware version: DL-5JA-PBAPO1A

Paying 32K+ USD for this car and not having a decent infotainment experience is such a bummer and so lame, just because Apple CarPlay & Android Auto is not supported in China doesn't mean that the global market should suffer from this limitation.

Some type of a movement happened in the Philippines where the dealer there took on some initiatives on installing a different firmware for the Geely Coolray for it to support various features like the Apple CarPlay, but I don't think this will happen anytime soon where I'm from :rolleyes:

So It's up to us to find workarounds for this mess.

So here are my findings:​

Geely calls this software the GKUI.

The Chinese version of the car is called the Xingyue.

The car won't run any scripts or programs through the USB port at all unless you get into developer mode.

Found a couple of Russian threads like this one, for example, states that they have already modded/sideloaded APK into the Head Unit but through removing the external interior decor around the screen and then the screen itself to reach the Head Unit.

There's no further instruction from this Russian forum since all posts there seem to indirectly market a mod shop there, with no intentions of sharing this "trade secret" I presume. So on top of the money you paid for this car with a half-as*ed infotainment system, other wanna-be entrepreneurs want to milk you for your hard-earned cash, this situation is happening where I'm from too.

All of these mod shops claim that the only way to go into dev mode and have full control is to remove the head unit itself, This doesn't make sense of course since you have direct access to the head unit with 3 channels (as of my knowledge):

The USB port

Bluetooth

WIFI

Geely Okavango's Method of getting into Dev Mode is available here on this site.

The Geely Coolray or Binyue can be sideloaded as well, instructions are here.

There are some "Magic" Products on Amazon that claim that they can add Apple CarPlay & Android Auto by plugging their USB stick into "any car that has an infotainment screen".

2023 Findings/Hints

Upon Venturing the Esoteric Chinese Social Websites (Not Joking check out Baidu). I’ve gained more insights on:

- New method of APK Delivery: DNS Spoofing

Basically DNS spoof your HU into thinking you’re some server and it will download and install APKs for you. I’m not sure how since Google Translate doesn’t translate Chinese very well.

- Some secret menu that has options written in Chinese. You’ll need to input some codes that sound like they’re out of a SPY film though (for real it’s like CIA level stuff lol), and there’s another password inside this hidden password protected area! What a cluster!

- Me being me and adding the knowledge from said sites made me accidentally stumble across another hidden menu!!! -_-

- Disassembling the HU is NOT necessary!! Some People faced lots of issues after they did, noise and squeaking due to air gaps and miss handling. No one will assemble the HU better than the manufacturer!!

I’m willing to share details and resources with anyone who’s skilled enough to collab and has Linux skills, Android Reverse Engineering, and Penetration Testing DM or IM me for it.

I’m not interested in business

I just wanna unlock the infotainment system so my lovely wife can enjoy her new car.

I will try to update this thread with any information of value whenever I can.

I hope you will do the same.