Tesla drivers eagerly awaiting the integration of Apple’s CarPlay system into their electric vehicles will have to wait a little longer. According to the latest information published by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his newsletter Power On, the plans have been delayed due to minor compatibility issues within iOS 26, but also due to the low adoption rate of that operating system among users.
The wait for CarPlay for Tesla owners has been going on for a long time, especially after the first rumors pointed to implementation at the end of 2025, and Bloomberg reported back in November that Tesla was internally testing the system in its vehicles. However, Gurman reveals how compatibility issues have arisen between Apple Maps and Tesla’s own navigation software, which is deeply integrated with autonomous driving features.
In response, Apple released an update to iOS 26 that should better synchronize the two navigation apps, especially in situations where the driver uses Tesla’s autonomous driving options. However, despite the software solution, Tesla is reportedly still concerned about the low adoption rate of iOS 26 and has decided to delay the introduction of CarPlay. Gurman notes that iOS 26 adoption rates have been lower than usual but are already on the rise, citing Apple’s latest data showing that 74 percent of all iPhones released in the past four years are already running iOS 26.
While there is still no official date for the CarPlay system to arrive in Tesla vehicles, the introduction of this popular feature could be a way to boost sales.