Apple CarPlay is still coming to Tesla cars but this is why it hasn't yet
Published on Feb 17, 2026 at 3:14 PM (UTC-5)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Feb 18, 2026 at 3:32 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Tesla still wants to adopt Apple CarPlay, but the going hasn’t been smooth so far.
There are a couple of technical hurdles as to why this hasn’t happened yet.
Some of these reasons are practical and logical, but a couple are purely related to style.
Including the reason why people used to call Tesla ‘the Apple of the car world’.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
This is why Tesla hasn’t adopted CarPlay yet
According to a new report from Bloomberg, Tesla is still planning to add CarPlay to its cars, but there are a few problems.
For starters, there’s a potential synchronization issue between Apple Maps and Tesla’s native navigation.
During testing, Tesla found that turn-by-turn guidance from its native system – the same that the automaker uses for Autopilot and for Full Self-Driving – didn’t work properly with Apple Maps.
This is a huge problem because it means drivers could see conflicting directions if both maps were open side-by-side, potentially leading to confusion during autonomous driving.
Imagine knowing your destination is to the left, and Apple Maps shows it to the left, but then the car (on FSD) goes right.
Who knows where you’ll end up?
The second problem is that people are apparently not updating their iPhones to iOS 26 fast enough.
The aforementioned glitch has apparently been fixed with iOS 26, but a significant number of users haven’t installed the update yet.
The third reason is even more intriguing.
Click the star icon next to supercarblondie.com in Google Search to stay ahead of the curve on the latest and greatest supercars, hypercars, and ground-breaking technology
The buttered cat paradox
The buttered cat paradox is a common joke based on two adages: cats always land on their feet, and toast always lands butter-side down.
The paradox is also a perfect metaphor for the ‘unstoppable force meets immovable object’ dynamic between Apple and Tesla.
In other words, both Apple and Tesla are obsessed with total vertical integration of their software and hardware.
So who’s going to blink first?
Unlike many other manufacturers, where Apple CarPlay takes over the entire screen, Tesla’s version is expected to run as a dedicated window within the existing UI.
Now, that sounds great, but we can only imagine what those email conversations must sound like as both companies probably won’t want to give an inch.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
