Tesla refuses to adopt CarPlay, but there are third-party solutions (and more on the way)

Tesla’s resistance to adding CarPlay is no secret, and there’s absolutely no indication it’s something the company is working on adding. We covered an alternative that allowed CarPlay to be added to Tesla vehicles earlier this year. Now it is available to anyone, provided they are willing to go through major hurdles.

There are also some third-party options. For more information, see below.

Use CarPlay with your Tesla… type of

Developer Michal Gapinski has been working on this project for a long time. He shared a first look at the efforts earlier this year, showing how features like steering wheel controls, Apple Music support, and more were already supported. Gapinski’s latest update on the project shows how far it’s come, and it’s now available for you to try.

This hacky workaround is driven by a Raspberry Pi running a custom version of Android; the full suite of hardware includes another Raspberry Pi running Linux, which handles the video and networking capabilities. To connect two boards, you’ll need an Ethernet and micro-HDMI cable.

Gapinski notes that you have some additional hardware to improve your set-up:

• Radiators for Raspberry Pi – The boards need some cooling
• Open housing for two Raspberry Pi computers – Makes cable management easy, allows all the hardware to fit into the center console
• CarlinKit CPC200-Autokit, CPC200-CCPA – If you intend to use wireless CarPlay or Android Auto, for wireless Android Auto order the new model: CPC200-CCPA

Once you have all of the hardware, the actual software experience of using CarPlay is powered by the in-car browser that’s available on Tesla cars. You connect to the Raspberry Pi using the browser, then load up the CarPlay interface right on the Tesla’s display (via Tesla North).

Despite running in the Tesla browser, the CarPlay experience is fully functional. CarPlay apps such as Apple Music, Google Maps and Google Maps can be used. To control the playback, you can use the button on the steering wheel to adjust the volume and enjoy the entire experience as you drive.

You can get started with this hacky CarPlay and Tesla workaround by heading to Gapinski’s website right here. Although it is not an “easy download and run in minutes” option, Tesla refuses to allow native CarPlay support.

A better option might be …

However, the future could hold a simpler “plug-and-play” method of bringing CarPlay into your Tesla. Alpine is one of the most popular companies that makes aftermarket head units with wired and wireless CarPlay support – the company offers a wide selection of head units with CarPlay support, but none of them are designed for Tesla vehicles.

That being said, an Alpine spokesperson confirmed to 9to5Mac that the company is actively working on solutions for Tesla cars that could bring CarPlay support. More details are unclear, but the company currently has its Alpine F#1 Status audio system running in a 2018 Tesla Model S, and is looking for more EV integration options.

9to5Mac’s Take (and other options)

With this Raspberry Pi system and efforts from companies like Alpine, it’s clear that most users aren’t going to let Tesla’s refusal to add native CarPlay support stop them. This Intellidash Pro standalone unit with wireless CarPlay support is one of the most popular.

The Intellidash Pro (full-review) attaches to the dash of your vehicle and provides the CarPlay experience regardless of whether it has a head unit. There are even other solutions designed specifically for Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y cars with displays that go behind the steering wheel where you’d usually find a traditional instrument cluster.

It seems unlikely that Tesla itself will ever cave in and offer native CarPlay support in its vehicles. Tesla is determined to control the whole in-car experience. Many owners have requested CarPlay support. Notably, Tesla doesn’t even support Apple Music integration, despite offering integration with Spotify and TIDAL services.

Code found within Tesla’s operating system indicated that it was, at one point, working on Apple Music integration. That integration, however, has not yet actually come to fruition.