After years of refusing to add Apple CarPlay to its vehicles, Tesla‘s finally making a move. The electric car company has confirmed it’s actively developing CarPlay integration, marking a significant shift in its long-standing policy. MacRumors first reported the news on November 13, 2025, citing Bloomberg as the source. Tesla has resisted adding third-party infotainment systems for years, instead relying exclusively on its own touchscreen interface.
The company’s change of direction comes after countless owner requests for CarPlay support. Tesla’s leadership previously dismissed the need for external ecosystem integration, stating that their proprietary system was superior. That stance has now shifted. Internal project initiation was reported in mid-November 2025, signaling that Tesla’s taking this seriously.
According to Bloomberg’s reporting, Tesla intends to roll out CarPlay before the end of 2025. The exact date depends on how development progresses, but the company’s known for quick rollout cycles. When it arrives, CarPlay will work wirelessly on Tesla’s existing infotainment hardware. Users won’t need any hardware modifications to access the feature. The implementation will use standard wireless CarPlay, not the next-generation CarPlay Ultra variant.
The rollout is expected to include full Apple CarPlay functionality. All current production models should get support, including the Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, and Cybertruck. Older vehicle generations will likely receive the feature through software updates. CarPlay and Tesla’s native interface are planned to coexist seamlessly.
This move resolves what owners have requested for multiple years. iPhone users especially benefit, as they’ll no longer need third-party adapters to access their favorite apps. The addition also brings Tesla into alignment with industry-standard practices. Competitors have offered CarPlay integration for years.
The timing makes sense for Tesla’s business strategy too. Adding CarPlay could appeal to new buyer demographics who value iPhone integration. For existing owners, it’s a long-awaited quality-of-life improvement. While some view this as Tesla finally acknowledging limitations in its proprietary approach, the company frames it as expanding user choice. Regardless of viewpoint, CarPlay’s arrival represents one of the most significant software updates Tesla’s announced in recent memory. Tesla recommends scheduling the CarPlay software update during off-peak hours to minimize vehicle downtime during installation.