(Photo by ADEK BERRY/AFP via Getty Images)
Elon Musk-led Tesla has long stuck with its homegrown infotainment system and ignored customers' requests for a more advanced UI, but things may finally be changing.
As Bloomberg reports, Tesla is developing support for Apple CarPlay. Internal tests are underway, and it could arrive in the coming months.
For now, Tesla plans to use the standard version of Apple CarPlay, and not the Ultra version seen on Aston Martins. Drivers will be able to connect their iPhones wirelessly, after which CarPlay will appear as a window within Tesla's broader UI.
Users will have access to some key iPhone apps, but the CarPlay interface won't replace Tesla's UI entirely. Full Self-Driving (FSD), for instance, will still rely on Tesla's navigation system.
The possibility of CarPlay support might excite some Tesla owners, but given the company's tendency to test but not release new features, take this news with a grain of salt. Musk's relationship with Apple is also a bit frosty at the moment. His xAI startup recently sued Apple, accusing it of prioritizing OpenAI's ChatGPT over xAI's Grok on the App Store. ChatGPT is built into iOS, and the company is trying "to protect its monopoly in smartphones," xAI's lawsuit argues.
Tesla, however, is coming off a serious slump, so adding much-requested features is probably in its best interest. According to a 2024 McKinsey study, not having Android Auto or Apple CarPlay support is a major deal breaker for 35% of potential new car owners, though major auto makers are still removing them. (Tesla is not currently exploring Android Auto support, Bloomberg notes.)
Tesla saw record revenue in Q3 as US buyers rushed to secure an EV before the federal tax credit expired on Sept. 30. Earnings were down, however, Electrek reports. The EV maker released a more affordable Standard trim for its Model 3 and Y cars last month, but there are some trade-offs that might not make it worth the price cut.