For years, Tesla stood alone as the major holdout. While nearly every other major automaker embraced Apple CarPlay as a standard, must-have feature, Tesla’s self-developed system remained closed off. Now, in a fresh development, reports indicate Tesla is internally testing and developing support for the highly requested Apple CarPlay platform.
Tesla already testing Apple CarPlay support in its vehicles
This strategic shift comes at a critical time for the electric vehicle leader. Competition in the segment is escalating, and Tesla’s sales figures are softening. So, the company is looking for ways to boost appeal. A study in 2024 revealed that the lack of either CarPlay or Android Auto was a significant deal-breaker for a large percentage of potential buyers. By addressing this omission, Tesla can potentially unlock a whole segment of consumers previously hesitant to switch.
The move, reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, arrives with less friction than it would have years ago. Elon Musk previously cited his resistance to giving Apple greater access, especially when the iPhone maker was actively pursuing its own electric vehicle project. However, Apple abandoned its EV aspirations in 2024. The new scenario removes a key layer of competitive tension and making the partnership more palatable.
How CarPlay will work in a Tesla vehicle
The integration of CarPlay won’t involve replacing the iconic Tesla interface entirely. Instead, the Apple software is expected to operate within a window inside the broader Tesla operating system. This approach ensures drivers can still access the core vehicle controls and information that live exclusively within the Tesla OS.
The company plans to use the standard version of Apple CarPlay, which will be accessible wirelessly. It is important to note that this feature will not tap into proprietary Tesla functions. That is, Apple CarPlay will not act on features like Full Self-Driving (FSD) or specific climate and seat controls. For navigation related to driving automation, users will still rely on Tesla’s native systems.
According to the report, Tesla has discussed a rollout in the coming months. However, there is still no final release plan. For Apple, bringing CarPlay to the US EV market leader is a major win for maintaining its product ecosystem.
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