In what would mark a major shift for Tesla, the company is reportedly developing support for Apple CarPlay in its vehicles, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The move would represent a stunning reversal of Tesla’s longstanding refusal to integrate Apple’s and Google’s in-car platforms into its infotainment system.
Tesla has reportedly begun testing CarPlay internally, with plans to potentially roll out the feature in the coming months — although a final timeline has not been decided. The company could still delay or cancel the project, as it has done with other features in the past, sources told Bloomberg.
For years, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has dismissed the idea of adding CarPlay or Android Auto, arguing that Tesla’s in-house software is better suited for its vehicles. Back in 2017, Musk said, “CarPlay is a crutch. Tesla’s interface is designed from the ground up for the car.”
During Tesla’s Q3 2020 earnings call, he doubled down, saying the company had “no plans” to support either platform, adding: “We believe our in-house software is superior and more integrated with the vehicle.” As recently as last year’s Q1 2024 earnings call, Musk reiterated, “We’re not adding CarPlay. Our UI is the best in the industry.”
Despite that, CarPlay has remained one of the most-requested features among Tesla owners. Some have even resorted to unofficial workarounds, such as the Tesla Android Project, which lets users run CarPlay and Android Auto via the built-in browser. The open-source project recently added support for Apple’s new iOS 26 CarPlay redesign, which features a “Liquid Glass” aesthetic and new widgets for weather and calendar events.
Tesla is said to be working on support for standard CarPlay, not the newer Ultra version. According to Gurman, the automaker’s implementation of CarPlay will appear within a window inside its own interface rather than taking over the entire screen, and it won’t interact with vehicle-specific systems like Autopilot or Full Self-Driving. The company reportedly plans to support wireless CarPlay connections.
The potential addition of CarPlay could help Tesla address one of the few remaining pain points for prospective buyers. A 2024 McKinsey study found that nearly one-third of car buyers consider the absence of CarPlay or Android Auto a dealbreaker.
If Tesla follows through, it would be one of the most surprising software pivots in the company’s history — and a big win for Apple, whose CarPlay platform has struggled to gain ground with EV makers like General Motors.
Would you like to see Tesla finally add Apple CarPlay support to its vehicles, or do you prefer the company’s native infotainment solution? Let us know in the comments below.
