Tesla drivers will finally get Apple CarPlay in their cars. This move arrives after years of complaints from owners who stayed locked inside Tesla’s own software. The change brings a feature many iPhone users depend on every day, and it gives Tesla a smoother path into the wider Apple ecosystem.
In his Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman said Tesla plans to add CarPlay support in the coming months. He called it the biggest change to regular CarPlay in years, if Tesla follows through. Gurman also noted how surprising this shift is, given Elon Musk’s long refusal to adopt CarPlay despite constant requests from Tesla owners.
A major shift inside Tesla
Gurman wrote that Tesla will offer the standard wireless version of CarPlay, not CarPlay Ultra. He added that CarPlay will appear inside a window within Tesla’s own interface, instead of taking over the entire screen. This keeps Tesla’s design in control while still giving drivers access to iPhone apps, navigation, and media.
He also pointed out that Tesla already supports Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and even built an Apple Watch app. These steps showed Tesla leaning closer to Apple’s services, but full CarPlay support marks the company’s biggest move yet.
What changed for Elon Musk
Gurman said Musk resisted CarPlay because he wanted to protect Tesla’s own infotainment system. But shifting demand in the electric car market and pressure to improve sales pushed Tesla to act. Gurman added that Musk now needs every advantage he can get as he works toward major compensation milestones tied to Tesla’s performance.
Tesla owners have waited years for this. If Tesla delivers on this plan, it gives iPhone users a simpler, more familiar driving experience inside one of the world’s most popular electric cars.
