Image: Tesla Android
The popular Tesla Android Project — the third-party hardware solution that brings Android apps, CarPlay, and even Android Auto to Tesla vehicles — has officially launched its second-generation hardware. The update, announced this week, delivers major improvements across performance, cooling, storage, and reliability, all while running the new 2025.46.1 software update with full turn-by-turn GPS support.
The Tesla Android Project originally made waves back in 2022, when Polish developer Michał Gapiński managed to get Apple CarPlay running inside a Tesla using a home-built workaround. It allows Tesla owners to get CarPlay, Android Auto, and a myriad of Android apps running inside a browser window on their vehicle’s central touchscreen. Tesla Android later launched its first-generation turnkey hardware in late 2023.
Now, the second-gen device arrives as a fully refined system built specifically for automotive use — and early adopters aren’t being left behind. Anyone with a 1st-gen Tesla Android unit can upgrade by purchasing an €89 (about $103 USD) hardware bundle.
Image: Tesla Android
The new model features improved cooling, fully internal antennas, and a Real Time Clock module for faster and more reliable cold boots. Storage also gets a major boost: Tesla Android now uses Raspberry Pi–made NVMe SSDs for noticeably quicker performance, plus a new 128GB High Endurance SD option for a more budget-friendly configuration.
Despite the hardware refresh, the system continues to run on the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4). According to the team, the newer CM5 lacks a crucial hardware-accelerated video encoder required for Tesla Android’s ultra-low-latency display pipeline. Even so, software optimizations have doubled rendering performance compared to the 1st-gen device.
Image: Tesla Android
Tesla Android hardware remains completely plug-and-play. Owners simply place the unit in their center console, connect power, insert a SIM card if desired, and open their Tesla browser to launch Android apps. That includes Google Maps and Waze with full GPS data, streaming apps, and even games installed directly from the Play Store — capabilities you can’t find natively on Tesla’s OS.
And while Tesla is reportedly working on official Apple CarPlay integration for its vehicles, there’s no clear timeline yet. There’s also no indication that Android Auto is coming to Teslas anytime soon. For many owners, Tesla Android remains the most flexible and fully featured solution available today.
The new second-generation hardware is available now, starting at €289 (about $335 USD), with optional CarPlay/Android Auto support, fully user-replaceable parts, and long-term software updates funded by hardware sales.
