Your Tesla car might soon get Apple CarPlay
What's the story
Tesla is working on integrating Apple CarPlay into its electric vehicles (EVs), according to a Bloomberg report. The feature is still in development and could be scrapped before it hits the market. If successful, this would be a major shift for Tesla, which has so far resisted calls from customers to add CarPlay support in its infotainment systems.
Infotainment apps
Tesla's current infotainment system
Currently, Tesla's infotainment system comes with native apps for streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal. However, user reports suggest that the quality of these apps has been inconsistent. Also, to use these services, customers need to subscribe to Tesla's premium connectivity package which costs $9.99 per month or $99 annually in the US.
Market response
The importance of CarPlay in vehicle purchasing decisions
The addition of CarPlay could sway some drivers who had previously ruled out Tesla. A McKinsey survey a couple of years ago found that half of the respondents wouldn't consider buying a vehicle without CarPlay or Android Auto. Despite this, Tesla has never allowed phone mirroring in its cars, arguing that it can provide a better integrated software experience than smartphones.
Feature details
How Tesla plans to integrate CarPlay
Tesla plans to integrate CarPlay into a window within its larger interface, rather than replacing its own software. The company is also looking to use the standard version of CarPlay, not Apple's more advanced CarPlay Ultra which includes core functions like speedometer and climate controls. This unique approach shows how Tesla is trying to balance user demands with its own software capabilities.