In today’s automotive landscape, connectivity has become a major selling point. Almost every automaker now offers Apple CarPlay as a standard feature across their model line-ups. Recently, it was reported that Tesla is finally joining the bandwagon after years of relying on its own closed ecosystem to maintain full control over the in-car experience.
The decision reportedly stems from strong customer demand, and according to Bloomberg, Tesla has already begun internal testing of the feature. This marks a significant turnaround for the company, as it would be the first time it integrates a third-party application into its ecosystem.
Tesla is expected to adopt the standard version of Apple CarPlay, meaning it will not take over key vehicle functions such as the instrument cluster, seat controls, or climate settings. It will also have no integration with Tesla-specific features like Full Self-Driving mode. Apple updated the standard CarPlay interface with iOS 26, introducing new elements such as widgets for weather updates and upcoming appointments.
iPhone users can enable CarPlay either by connecting their device to the vehicle via USB or, in newer cars, pairing it wirelessly. Tesla plans to support the wireless version, allowing drivers to connect without cables.
(Source: Blomberg)
