Tesla appears to be on the verge of offering Apple CarPlay across its entire line-up. Bloomberg reports-citing an anonymous source-that the company is already testing the feature’s integration, and that a public rollout could be close.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remain deal-breakers
Apple CarPlay, first introduced in 2014, is now built into almost every new car model coming to market and has become non-negotiable for a large proportion of drivers. A McKinsey & Company study published in 2023 found that nearly half of new car buyers worldwide would not purchase a vehicle without Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Even so, Tesla has long prevented customers from mirroring their smartphones on the car’s display, arguing it can deliver a better in-car experience without relying on third-party interfaces.
Spend a few minutes on Tesla forums or owner pages, though, and it is clear many drivers have been outspoken in wanting that stance to change. Now, Tesla seems to have finally taken notice.
Why only now?
It is widely known that Elon Musk’s relationship with Apple has been fraught. On multiple occasions, the South African entrepreneur has criticised App Store policies, and he is said to have been frustrated by Apple courting (and in some cases hiring) several Tesla engineers for the Apple Car project-an effort that ultimately never materialised.
At the same time, Tesla is once again pushing to increase sales volumes (including the launch of the Standard versions of the Model Y and the Model 3 in the US). In that context, adding Apple CarPlay could help sway a portion of undecided buyers. According to Bloomberg, this move may be one of several measures aimed at renewing interest among new customers.
How will it work?
As you would expect, any Apple CarPlay integration would follow Tesla’s own approach rather than the typical implementation seen elsewhere. Bloomberg’s information suggests CarPlay will appear within a window embedded in Tesla’s software, meaning it is unlikely to take over the entire display as it does in most other manufacturers’ vehicles.
That choice is easy to understand, particularly because the Model 3 and Model Y do not have a dedicated instrument cluster. Key information such as speed and energy consumption is shown on the central screen, which in these two models also houses the gear selector and the vehicle immobiliser function.
Bloomberg also says Tesla is only working on integrating the more conventional version of Apple CarPlay, rather than the newer (and more immersive) CarPlay Ultra-which Diogo Teixeira has already had the chance to try in the new Aston Martin DBX S. Take a look:
Other manufacturers that have dropped Apple CarPlay
Tesla is not alone in stepping away from Apple CarPlay: Rivian and General Motors (Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac) have also chosen to stop offering it in their models. The open question is whether, like the brand led by Elon Musk, they may reverse that decision in the future.
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