Tesla Working With Apple on Navigation Fix for Upcoming CarPlay Integration

Tesla is continuing its quiet campaign to bring Apple CarPlay to its vehicles, according to sources familiar with the project, reports Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

While the electric vehicle automaker initially hoped to launch the feature by late 2025, technical experts and industry insiders say a few final hurdles have kept the integration in the testing phase.

Gurman detailed the shift in today’s Sunday PowerOn newsletter, noting that adding the popular iPhone interface remains a top priority for Tesla to help boost vehicle demand.

The Strategy Behind the Screen

Unnamed people close to the matter suggest that Tesla viewed the addition of CarPlay as a critical move to satisfy buyers who consider the software a non-negotiable feature. For years, the company leaned on its own in-house software, which many consider the best in the industry.

So what will the integration look like? The plan being developed does not replace Tesla’s existing interface. Instead, sources say CarPlay will run inside a dedicated window. This allow users to access Apple’s ecosystem without losing access to Tesla’s core controls, like climate settings or the visuals for its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.

Technical Hurdles and Mapping Conflicts

The delay is reportedly tied to how navigation works during FSD. Those familiar with the internal testing say Tesla discovered that its own mapping software and Apple Maps were not properly synchronizing. This led to a confusing situation where the car’s self-driving system might follow one set of turn-by-turn directions while the CarPlay window displayed another.

To fix this, Tesla reportedly asked Apple to make engineering changes to its Maps app. While Apple agreed and released the necessary updates in a bug fix for iOS 26, a new problem has emerged.

Waiting for the Update

According to recent data, adoption of iOS 26 has been slower than previous releases. On Friday, Apple shared statistics showing that iOS 26 is currently on 74 percent of iPhones released in the last four years. For comparison, iOS 18 had reached 76 percent adoption by this same time last year. Part of the reason may be because not everyone is a fan of the new Liquid Glass design.

Those familiar with Tesla’s roadmap say the company is hesitant to roll out CarPlay until more drivers have the specific version of the software that includes the navigation fix. Because the critical patch arrived in a later update rather than the initial release, it remains unclear exactly how many users are truly ready.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly dismissed Apple CarPlay over the years. In 2017, he called it “a crutch” and said Tesla’s interface was built specifically for its cars. In 2020, he said Tesla had “no plans” to support CarPlay or Android Auto, arguing the company’s own software was more integrated and superior.

During Tesla’s Q1 2024 earnings call, Musk maintained that position, saying, “We’re not adding CarPlay. Our UI is the best in the industry.” Obviously things have changed and it will be interesting to see CarPlay available inside Tesla vehicles.