Could Tesla be about to enable Apple CarPlay on its cars? There are internal discussions underway and it could be rolled out within months, at least according to reports from news agency Bloomberg.
The Texan carmaker has so far stubbornly refused to integrate the phone package into its infotainment setup, instead relying on its own software. Sales have started to lag at the company, though, and it’s reported that Apple’s CarPlay is on the table as a way to help boost the appeal of Tesla’s model range, which includes the newly updated Model Y.
Tesla has been a big influence on the industry’s move towards a software led experience over hardware. The company’s combination of a giant touchscreen and innovative apps, like karaoke and Netflix, to entertain passengers during charge stops set a new bar for in-car entertainment, but the phone integration has been a weak spot.
Where rival carmakers struggled to compete on the software experience, Apple’s willingness to provide its own package for iPhone users to replicate their phone setup on infotainment screens has proven lucrative. Phone messages and notifications are seamlessly passed on, you can use your existing playlists for music and instead of a ropy manufacturer satnav you can plot your route with your favoured app. Or use Zap-Map to find a plug if you're in an electric vehicle.
If Tesla was to adopt CarPlay in its cars it would be a big about face for the independent minded carmaker, but would open up its cars to a wider audience who would appreciate the continuity. The Bloomberg report does indicate that Tesla would still go partially its own way if it introduced CarPlay, allowing the setup to run within a window on the infotainment screen rather than taking over the whole thing as is customary on other cars.
Rivian is another carmaker that doesn’t like CarPlay, which might prove a sticking point for customers when it launches in the UK in 2026. BMW came under fire in 2019 for proposing to charge its customers extra to enjoy the use of CarPlay, a decision it later abandoned. The company did make headlines earlier this summer, though, hinting that it might ditch Apple integration, saying that customers didn’t love CarPlay as much as they thought they did.
Aston Martin has gone in the opposite direction, though, being the first manufacturer to use Apple’s new CarPlay Ultra system, which goes beyond the infotainment and takes over control of in-car systems including the dashboard display. Hyundai and Kia are the next candidates to introduce the system, and Porsche is said to be working on it for its upcoming cars too.
Are you looking for a new car in the next 12 months? Check out our list of all the new electric cars that are coming in 2026.
Tesla's resistance to Apple integration could be weakening... 
