Tesla delays CarPlay launch due to minor iOS 26 issues

Tesla CarPlay is expected to appear in the company's electric cars, but its launch is delayed due to low iOS 26 adoption and compatibility issues with Apple Maps. Bloomberg reports this.

What is known

According to Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, Tesla faced difficulties integrating CarPlay due to conflicts between its own navigation system and Apple Maps. This is especially important for the autopilot, which actively uses Tesla's internal maps.

Previous rumors predicted the launch of CarPlay by the end of 2025, and Bloomberg reported on the system being tested in Tesla cars in November. Apple even released the iOS 26 update to ease the synchronization of both navigation apps; however, the low adoption rate of iOS 26 forces Tesla to postpone the integration. By the end of January 2026, about 74% of iPhones from the last four years run on iOS 26, but the company still considers this insufficient for a mass rollout.

The exact date for CarPlay's appearance in Tesla is still unknown. Meanwhile, the introduction of the popular feature could boost sales, as US registration estimates show the company's sales have been declining for the fourth consecutive month.

Source: Bloomberg