Apple News
The Apple CarPlay solution for Tesla Cars is now available for download
The solution is open source and requires Raspbery Pi device support
Apple CarPlay is now available for Tesla vehicles, but only for owners using a workaround that connects to the Raspberry Pi.
Tesla has never been interested in bringing CarPlay into its cars, after we introduced Polish developer Micha Gapiński earlier this year to show off his successful introduction of Apple's in-vehicle system into his Tesla Model 3.
After six months of work, Gapiński has now released the first publicly available alpha version of Tesla Android on Github for others to download and try.
Download: https://tesla-android.gapinski.eu/
Open Source: https://github.com/tesla-android
Workarounds include using a Rasberry Pi with an LTE modem and Wi-Fi access point, running custom Android-based firmware, and micro-HDMI to HDMI cables and Ethernet cables.
The in-car browser is used to connect to the Rasberry Pi and display the CarPlay interface on Tesla's screen, which includes maps and Apple working as expected. The system works while driving and can also be controlled via the media buttons on tesla's steering wheel.
Gapiński says the main goal of the latest alpha version is usability. He said on the Tesla Android project website:
For the project to scale and become popular in the Tesla community, it needs to provide a responsive Android experience. Otherwise, people won't use it. Now, the focus is starting to shift to better integration and simplification, and by reducing the installation guide to something that can be done in a matter of minutes, abandoning the two-board requirement will help reduce costs and barriers to entry.
Although CarPlay has an advantage over many other electric vehicles, Tesla does not provide official support. Hinting in 2020 that Tesla's plans to support Apple Music never materialized, Tesla CEO Elon Musk didn't seem to respond to requests on social media for the company to bring CarPlay into its vehicles, even though it's one of the most requested features among Tesla owners.