Tesla may finally be bowing to the calls of iPhone users who want practically every other major automaker to provide them with Apple CarPlay. According to the outlet’s sources, it is reporting that the EV giant is working to add Apple’s car infotainment integration to its vehicles. Internal testing of this feature has reportedly begun and it may be ready for release in the coming months. Of course, developing and testing the feature does not guarantee that it will see the light of day.
A facelift of this magnitude would be truly surprising given Tesla’s years of steadfast commitment to its own infotainment solution, which doesn’t require a smartphone to be connected. In the past, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the iPhone maker have had a somewhat frosty relationship. Musk once said that he had offered it when the Model 3 program almost bankrupted the company, but Tim Cook refused to take the meeting. Apple had previously hired key Tesla employees for its failed projects.
Tesla will reportedly include CarPlay in a separate window within its existing software interface, ensuring that it will not completely replace the existing Tesla system. bloomberg It was also reported that Tesla will use the standard version of CarPlay, as opposed to the new version that integrates with the vehicle’s instrument cluster.
This would be an interesting time to jump on the bandwagon as Apple CarPlay may be reaching its peak right now. GM recently announced that it will be phasing out support for both CarPlay and Android Auto in favor of a system that directly goes against the platforms. The Ford CEO recently introduced the latest improved version of Apple’s tool. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment on the report, and Elon Musk also had no comment at the time of publication.