Tesla is developing Apple CarPlay support for its vehicles in a bid to boost sales, Bloomberg News reports, citing people familiar with the effort — one of the most frequently requested features from customers.The company has already begun internal testing of the integration, according to the sources, who asked not to be named as the project remains confidential.
Mark Gurman and Edward Ludlow for Bloomberg News:
The CarPlay platform — long supported by other automakers — shows users a version of the iPhone’s software that’s optimized for vehicle infotainment systems. It’s considered a must-have option by many drivers.
Adding CarPlay would mark a stunning reversal for Tesla and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, who long ignored pleas to implement the popular feature.
Tesla cars rely on an in-house infotainment system, which has its own apps and features like messaging and web browsing. The company had long opposed giving Apple more access to Tesla customers — especially when the iPhone maker was angling to become a rival in electric vehicles.
But the landscape has changed. Apple bowed out of the EV race in 2024 by canceling its Titan initiative, and Musk now relies on Apple as a critical partner for distributing the X social networking app and Grok AI service. Tesla sales also have softened, with some buyers citing the lack of CarPlay support as a reason for not choosing the company’s cars.
MacDailyNews Take: No CarPlay support? No sale!
(Not that we’d ever buy a pure EV, regardless)
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