Contemplating how modern and futuristic Tesla vehicles appear, it comes as a giant shock when Apple followers uncover that not one of the firm’s automobiles natively help CarPlay. In 2022, this leaves Tesla because the odd one out amongst automakers.
With CarPlay constructed into 80 % of recent vehicles offered final 12 months, you’d assume Tesla would get on board. Nonetheless, this seems to be purely intransigence on the corporate’s half slightly than a technical limitation. The carmaker writes its personal software program from the bottom up and insists on doing issues its personal approach.
It’s unclear whether or not the dearth of CarPlay help has been a major problem for Tesla. Even in 2017, 23 % of recent automotive patrons within the U.S. refused to purchase a automotive with out CarPlay, whereas 56 % instructed the characteristic would tilt the scales. These numbers have solely elevated as extra carmakers have embraced this seamless iPhone integration, and most surveys now counsel CarPlay is sort of a deal-breaker for many prospects.
Nonetheless, Tesla has an enthusiastic fanbase that’s nearly as loyal as Apple followers are. The advantages provided by a Tesla automotive can outweigh these supplied by CarPlay, leaving people prepared to forego the iPhone options. Tesla has additionally been engaged on Apple Music integration for a while, though that has but to materialize.
Even Elon Musk doesn’t discover that vital; the Tesla CEO says he “simply makes use of Apple Music by means of Bluetooth.” More moderen experiences counsel that Tesla could also be exploring AirPlay to enhance sound high quality, which wouldn’t be troublesome as all Tesla automobiles include built-in Wi-Fi as a regular characteristic.
Luckily, when you personal a Tesla or are contemplating shopping for one, you don’t essentially should stay with out CarPlay. Nonetheless, you’ll should resort to some awkward workarounds to get it.
Unofficial CarPlay Options for Tesla Automobiles
Tesla house owners have been insisting that the corporate add CarPlay to its automobiles for years, and because it’s provided no signal it ever intends to do that, just a few have give you intelligent methods so as to add it themselves.
The best solution to get CarPlay right into a Tesla is to buy a devoted add-on unit just like the Intellidash Professional. It’s not practically as elegant as having CarPlay working in your good huge middle console display screen, however it does get the job accomplished.
One other firm, Hansshow, which makes a speciality of Tesla add-ons and equipment, has a nine-inch CarPlay show designed to go above the steering wheel, which inserts in properly since Tesla automobiles don’t embody an instrument cluster there.
Nonetheless, if you would like essentially the most seamless Tesla CarPlay expertise doable and also you’re prepared to place in a little bit of effort, you’ll need to take a look at the answer Polish developer Michał Gapiński has put collectively.
In January, Gapiński put collectively a Raspberry Pi with a customized construct of Android that gives the CarPlay interface by means of the online browser constructed into the Tesla software program. Over the previous few months, he’s refined his Tesla Android with CarPlay mission, and now it’s way more succesful.
In a latest video on YouTube, Gapiński outlines how he’s expanded it to help each Tesla mannequin and added a wealth of recent options, too.
To be clear, Gapiński’s resolution doesn’t provide a “true” CarPlay expertise, as he has but to determine a solution to set off the CarPlay consumer interface. As a substitute, he’s merely mirroring the iPhone display screen along with his personal CarPlay-like UI constructed round among the components. You’ll be able to see this within the video, the place apps like Music and Maps clearly present the sort of menus and particulars you’d see when utilizing your iPhone.
Tesla Android with CarPlay isn’t one thing we’d advocate for non-technical customers; you’re a lot better merely selecting up one of many standalone CarPlay items we listed above, however it’s nonetheless thrilling and attention-grabbing to see what Gapiński is doing right here. As he continues to refine his software program, it may develop into a viable resolution for Tesla house owners, particularly if he can current the correct CarPlay interface slightly than simply mirroring the iPhone’s apps onto the Tesla’s display screen.