Tesla’s long-awaited Apple CarPlay launch is still happening — just not as quickly as some drivers had hoped. After signaling last year that support could arrive by the end of 2025, the electric car maker has encountered some unexpected hurdles slowing the rollout, according to the latest issue of Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter.
A delayed but ongoing integration
Tesla began rolling out Apple’s CarPlay system in its vehicles at a time of weak sales and increasing pressure to boost demand. At the time, adding CarPlay was viewed internally as more than just a small software update. For many car buyers, CarPlay has become a must-have feature – a familiar, iPhone-like interface that seamlessly integrates navigation, news and music into the dashboard.
Despite Tesla’s reputation for having one of the best in-house infotainment systems in the automotive industry, customer demand for CarPlay remains strong. Tesla’s software already supports Apple Music, Spotify, video playback, web browsing, and deep integration with its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. But for many users that is not enough. CarPlay’s simplicity and ecosystem integration remain a strong draw.
Tesla confirmed plans to support CarPlay in a windowed mode within its existing interface. However, technical challenges have pushed back the schedule.
During testing, Tesla discovered compatibility issues between Apple Maps and its own mapping software used for self-driving features. In particular, the Tesla navigation system’s turn-by-turn guidance did not sync properly with Apple Maps when autonomous driving was active. In scenarios where both systems were visible side by side, this mismatch could confuse drivers.
Tesla demanded technical changes from Apple to fix the problem. Apple implemented the fix in a later update to iOS 26 and the latest version of CarPlay. However, another obstacle emerged: not enough users had the updated software installed.
CarPlay isn’t just another dashboard app – it’s become a central part of how many drivers interact with their vehicles. For iPhone users in particular, the ability to mirror apps, access messages, use Apple Maps or Google Maps, and rely on Siri through a familiar interface can greatly improve the driving experience.
Tesla has long refused to add CarPlay, arguing that its own system offers better integration
But with competitors increasingly incorporating CarPlay as standard, the absence has been a sticking point for some potential buyers. iOS 26 adoption rates were slower than previous versions. Apple recently announced that 74% of iPhones released in the last four years are running iOS 26 – slightly behind the pace of previous updates. Crucially, the necessary Apple Maps fix was not available in the first iOS 26.0 version, but in later updates. Apple has not disclosed how many users are using these later builds.
For Tesla, rolling out CarPlay before a critical mass of drivers have the compatible software could lead to inconsistencies and support issues. This has led to a more cautious approach.
The good news is that CarPlay remains firmly on Tesla’s roadmap. As adoption of iOS 26 continues to increase, the technical hurdles should gradually disappear. Apple is also expanding CarPlay functionality, adding support for third-party voice chatbot apps and improving its Premium Ultra version – moves that could make the eventual Tesla integration even more compelling.
For now, CarPlay-loving Tesla drivers will have to wait a little longer. But the direction is clear: the feature is coming – exactly according to a schedule that is determined by both the software rollout and the technology.
