Tesla Delayed Apple CarPlay Rollout Due to iOS 26 Navigation Conflict [Report]

Tesla's plan to bring Apple CarPlay to its vehicles has reportedly been delayed by the need for changes to the Maps app in iOS 26. The electric automaker had been targeting support as early as late 2025, but compatibility issues between Apple's navigation software and Tesla's in-house system slowed progress.



According to the latest edition of Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter, Tesla discovered during testing that turn-by-turn guidance from Apple Maps did not properly synchronize with Tesla's native mapping software, which is deeply integrated with its Full Self-Driving and Autopilot systems. When both navigation systems were active, the lack of synchronization created a confusing experience for drivers.


To address the problem, Tesla asked Apple to modify Maps so it would better align with the vehicle's navigation system. Apple made the changes in a later bug-fix update to iOS 26 and the current version of CarPlay. However, the fix was not included in the initial iOS 26.0 release last September.

Adoption of iOS 26 has also been slower than previous releases. On Friday, Apple said that iOS 26 is now running on 74% of iPhones introduced in the last four years, compared with 76% adoption for iOS 18 at a similar point last year. Apple does not specify how many users are running the later builds that include the Maps fix, leaving some uncertainty around how quickly Tesla can proceed.

Tesla still plans to implement CarPlay in a dedicated window within its existing infotainment interface rather than replacing the full dashboard experience like Apple's next-generation CarPlay system. The move would mark a significant shift for Tesla, which has historically declined to support third-party projection platforms despite persistent demand from iPhone users.

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