image via Twitter
According to one software engineer on Twitter, Apple is blocking new third party Tesla apps from the app store. A new Twitter thread from Rody Davis walks viewers through the struggles associated with trying to get a new third party Tesla app approved by Apple.
After over a year of appeals @apple has rejected all my submissions for the @AppStore for my @FlutterDev @Tesla "Sidecar for Tesla” app. 😑 I have a ton of users in beta and Android users are happy! pic.twitter.com/yl82gXNzMZ
— Rody Davis (@rodydavis) April 23, 2020
As the tweets state, PSA: Apple will reject all new 3rd party Tesla apps. Or any app that controls a 3rd party device and the app is not made from the manufacture.” The statement comes after a series of correspondence with Apple. According to their statements, app developers must get explicit approval from Tesla Inc. or their CEO Elon Musk.
Meanwhile, the app in question known as “Sidecar for Tesla” enjoys several satisfied Android users. Some people have speculated the issue at hand may lie in the fact that the word “Tesla” appears in the app’s name. It’s more likely that the issue comes from the app having control over a physical device. According to another tweet by the software developer, “They just have a problem with me controlling a physical device. They said they will reject apps that do the same for like Samsung TVs too.”
As Tesla’s user base grows, more third-party apps become available. The proliferation of such apps may cause a shift in Apple’s policies. But, for now, some developers may run into hurdles.
