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Good news for Tesla owners: Apple CarPlay may be on its way

Good news for Tesla owners: Apple CarPlay may be on its way
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By N. Pedersen 18. November 2025

Tesla is reportedly testing Apple CarPlay, which could have a major impact on the automaker’s position in a tight electric car market.

Tesla has long been known for going its own way with its software and infotainment system.

But now a significant shift could be on the way.

According to information from Bloomberg, Tesla is currently testing Apple CarPlay internally and is considering a possible rollout of it in their cars in the near future.

Until now, Tesla has consistently refused to support CarPlay and instead stuck with their own interface.

This has been a strategic choice, but also a source of criticism from some consumers.

According to an analysis by McKinsey, the absence of CarPlay is a deciding factor for over 30% of all car buyers.

This suggests that a possible integration could have a major impact on the purchase decision of a broad target group.

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The integration is likely to be unique

If CarPlay becomes part of the Tesla universe, it will probably be done in a way that differs from the classic solution.

Sources close to the development say that Tesla plans to integrate CarPlay in a separate window in their existing interface.

This is similar to the approach used in vehicles with Android Automotive.

It is expected that Tesla will use the standard wireless version of CarPlay rather than the more advanced CarPlay Ultra, which offers deeper integration into the car’s systems.

No details have yet been released on which models will receive the feature or how it will be rolled out to existing Tesla owners.

Possible response to declining market share

The rumor comes at a time when Tesla is experiencing a decline in market share in both the US and European markets.

In Europe, competition from Chinese and Korean automakers has increased significantly and several brands are already offering CarPlay as a standard feature in their EVs.

At the same time, industry sources believe that Elon Musk’s behavior and public statements have had a negative impact on Tesla’s image.

This may have led to more consumers choosing the competition, even though the car’s technical specifications are otherwise competitive.

If Tesla chooses to implement Apple CarPlay, it will be a step towards meeting customer demands and reducing a barrier that has previously held potential buyers back.

However, Tesla itself has yet to comment on the new information.

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