Tesla considers wireless Apple CarPlay for its EVs

Tesla, which for years firmly rejected Apple CarPlay integration, may be changing course. About a decade ago, Elon Musk spoke of an interest in adding CarPlay and Android Auto, but the company later focused on building its own ecosystem and effectively stepped away from smartphone connectivity. Now, as other automakers try to copy Tesla’s strategy and remove CarPlay from their EVs, Tesla itself may be preparing to move in the opposite direction.

According to insiders, the company is considering the standard version of CarPlay rather than the new CarPlay Ultra. In Tesla vehicles, the system would appear in a separate window on the central display, leaving speed, battery charge and other key readouts unobstructed. That approach preserves Tesla’s signature interface while giving drivers access to familiar iPhone apps.

Pairing is expected to be fully wireless. The driver would just get in the car and the phone would connect automatically. That reduces friction for using Apple Music, messages, podcasts and navigation—features many prefer to Tesla’s own tools.

For many buyers, CarPlay has become close to a must-have. People recognize the iPhone interface and want it mirrored on the car’s screen. Bringing CarPlay into the fold would read as a pragmatic nod to customer habits and could remove one of the brand’s most persistent points of criticism.

Even so, the project remains fluid: Tesla could pause or cancel development at any time, as it has with other features. If everything stays on track, CarPlay support could arrive within the next few months, but without an official announcement, all that’s left is to wait for confirmation.