diff --git a/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 6293a9fe57..adc2b178f8 100644
--- a/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@
         android:theme="@style/Theme.ElementX"
         tools:targetApi="33">
 
+        <meta-data
+            android:name="com.google.android.gms.car.application"
+            android:resource="@xml/automotive_app_desc" />
+
         <provider
             android:name="androidx.startup.InitializationProvider"
             android:authorities="${applicationId}.androidx-startup"
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/xml/automotive_app_desc.xml b/app/src/main/res/xml/automotive_app_desc.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..745752ed0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/res/xml/automotive_app_desc.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><!--
+  ~ Copyright 2025 New Vector Ltd.
+  ~
+  ~ SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only OR LicenseRef-Element-Commercial
+  ~ Please see LICENSE files in the repository root for full details.
+  -->
+<automotiveApp>
+    <uses name="notification" />
+</automotiveApp>