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If you have iPhoneYou’ve probably used Apple CarPlay in your own car, a friend’s car, or even a rental car. The software mirrors your iPhone, identifying apps and notifications on the in-car display.
But do you know who can’t use it? Tesla owners. Tesla runs its own software Electric carswith no support for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It offers apps for Apple Music and Apple Podcasts, and pairing your phone via Bluetooth lets you receive calls and texts. But it’s not the same as CarPlay, much to the annoyance of some Tesla owners.
But there is good news. Tesla is working on adding CarPlay to its cars in the “coming months,” according to A Bloomberg report Thursday. Bloomberg said that the CarPlay system you are used to will not be the one that takes over the full view of your car. It won’t be the latest CarPlay Ultrawhich controls your entire car. Rather, it will be a custom Tesla app.
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How CarPlay can work on a Tesla
This is what Tesla’s current software looks like with no third-party integrations on the horizon.
Tesla is said to be planning to use standard CarPlay, which has been updated for iOS 26as a starting point. What’s different is that it will likely work within a window on Tesla’s existing interface. This means that it will not take up the entire screen as is the case in some other cars. It also won’t control things like the seats or climate. Users will still need the Tesla Navigation app to use features like Full self-driving.
The upcoming CarPlay integration will reportedly be wireless-only, in line with newer apps found in premium cars. While Apple CarPlay is getting the green light, Tesla doesn’t appear to be extending the same courtesy to Android Auto, with no support in the works.
The decision to integrate CarPlay internally into Tesla cars is still under wraps, and the automaker hasn’t confirmed anything publicly. But testing has reportedly already begun, suggesting that Tesla has finally given in to one of its customers’ most pressing demands.
Many drivers see CarPlay as a non-negotiable feature. The platform provides access to Apple Maps, Messages, Music, and Siri, as well as third-party apps like Spotify and Google Maps, all poised for a safer, driver-friendly interface. In fact, A McKinsey study From 2024 indicated that about one in three car buyers consider the absence of CarPlay or Android Auto a deal breaker.
Tesla’s software, which has historically been closed, has long relied on a proprietary system that includes built-in web browsing and its own navigation tools. As a Tesla and iPhone owner, I’ve never longed for CarPlay, since Tesla’s software is solid. But the added convenience of notifications through the screen is something I’ll enjoy.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s distaste for CarPlay isn’t just philosophical. And it was competitive, too. Apple’s ill-fated attempt to Build your own EV Its talent raids on Tesla’s engineering staff did not help improve relations. But after Apple halted its car project last year, the situation appears to have improved.
With Tesla’s focus on full self-driving, the decision to add CarPlay is an odd one. The goal of CarPlay is to safely deliver notifications without having to look at your phone while driving. but Musk thinks You’ll be able to text and drive when using the unsupervised full self-driving feature in Tesla cars in the near future.
