Apple News
Developers in the Netherlands are running CarPlay on Tesla cars
Load into Tesla's browser via a Raspberry Pi running Android
The developer promises to release it publicly after improvement
The implementation process is complex and suitable for niche Tesla owners
Tesla's cars don't support Apple CarPlay. Tesla wrote its own software for its infotainment system and refused to adopt Apple CarPlay. In fact, Tesla doesn't even officially support Apple Music, although integration was discovered in tests as early as December 2020.
Over the weekend, Polish developer Micha Gapiński shared a solution to running CarPlay on his Tesla Model 3. For many car owners, carplay support for Tesla will be a dream come true.
In a video with some photos, Gapiński shows CarPlay at work on his 15-inch Model 3 screen on Twitter. According to him, the steering wheel buttons can control Apple Music in the CarPlay solution.
This workaround is supported by a Raspberry Pi running custom-built Android. That's why CarPlay is loaded into Tesla's in-vehicle browser. Gapiński also seems to have to navigate CarPlay using a mouse connected to his Raspberry Pi.
The system uses a Rasberry Pi with an LTE modem and Wi-Fi access point to run custom Android-based firmware. Then use the in-car browser to connect to the Rasberry Pi and display the CarPlay interface on Tesla's screen, with all apps working as expected, including Maps and Apple Music. The Tesla Apple CarPlay solution continues to work while driving and can even be controlled via the car's steering wheel buttons.
Gapiński claims the project is in its early stages, but he plans to publicly share the solution after it is perfected. His next step was to make the user interface smoother and more responsive by improving the Wi-Fi connectivity between the Raspberry Pi board and the car.
The great appeal of CarPlay is the seamless iOS experience from iPhone to car. As more and more vehicles support wireless CarPlay, more seamless integration is provided.
While this Raspberry Pi solution that brings CarPlay to Teslas is truly impressive and fun, the amount of work, delay, and reliance on the in-car browser required to implement it is still difficult for most car owners, and this project is best suited for niche enthusiasts at the moment.
Most automakers offer Apple CarPlay in their vehicles, with Tesla being an exception. Some electric cars that seek to compete directly with Tesla, such as the BMW i4, BMW iX and Porsche Taycan, offer highly integrated versions of Apple CarPlay, as well as other Apple services such as Apple Music and Apple Podcasts, including support for features such as time-sync lyrics.
Tesla's strained relationship with Apple and its seeming desire to have full control over its infotainment system makes it unlikely that it will support Apple's CarPlay in the near future. Although there are indications that Tesla plans to support Apple Music, this is also not realized.