Tesla is reportedly working behind the scenes to add Apple CarPlay to its vehicles—an unexpected development given the company’s long-standing refusal to support the popular smartphone-mirroring platform.
According to a new report from Bloomberg, the feature is already being tested internally and could roll out in the coming months, although no official timeline has been provided, and it is also worth noting that Tesla is known to shelve features even after extensive development.
The shift in infotainment strategy is surprising. Tesla’s in-house software is widely considered the best infotainment experience in the industry, known for its responsiveness, deep vehicle integration, and a feature set that rivals what other automakers struggle to match even with CarPlay or Android Auto. Many longtime owners say they’ve never felt the need for Apple’s interface.
Still, there are advantages. CarPlay brings access to apps Tesla doesn’t offer—like Waze—and some drivers prefer Apple’s native Music app for curated radio stations. CarPlay could also reduce the learning curve for new drivers in rentals, loaners, or shared vehicles, even though the learning curve to adapt to Tesla’s UI is not steep.
If the report is accurate, the shift is also surprising as it contrasts with the direction of other automakers. Some companies are actively moving away from CarPlay and Android Auto. General Motors has removed both systems from its EVs, citing safety issues tied to unreliable connections, slow rendering, and drivers reverting to their phones when CarPlay freezes. GM’s head of infotainment has argued that these problems undermine the point of hands-free connectivity.
Ford, on the other hand, doubled down last year, publicly recommitting to both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. CEO Jim Farley said customers value the ability to “keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel,” and pledged to keep working with Apple and Google to enhance the experience.
Tesla reportedly plans to run CarPlay inside a window within its existing interface, meaning it won’t replace core vehicle controls or integrate with features like Full Self-Driving. And unlike some automakers adopting CarPlay Ultra, Tesla will stick with the standard version.
While details are scarce, if the project moves forward and is eventually released, CarPlay will likely only be available on Teslas equipped with the newer AMD Ryzen infotainment processor, which likely has the performance requirements to run Apple’s system smoothly compared to the older vehicles with Intel processors.
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