Tesla Model 3 owners and Model Y drivers will know the importance of the central display. Tesla’s two cheapest models don’t have driver info displays, so everything is displayed on the 15-inch screen, including your driving speed. The fact that Tesla Android is run through the web browser, an official feature of the infotainment, ensures a large portion of the display is not affected. You’ll be able see the important information that you require.
Standalone displays powered by standard 12 volt sockets in cars can connect to Android Auto or CarPlay. These can be expensive, but are usually simple to use and set up. Tesla would have been able to support both apps without any additional work. The company is one of only a few automakers who don’t support either app. Users must pay the Premium Connectivity Package ($10 per month or $99 annually) in order to have anything other than the basic tesla carplay navigation.
Android Auto and CarPlay have fewer features and are less advanced than Tesla. For example, intelligent navigation does not automatically include charging stations on long journeys. It would be nice to get a few options without having to dig into hacks. It doesn’t matter how good they are. Since almost everyone owns an iPhone or Android phone, most customers are looking for a vehicle that has Apple CarPlay. Automakers, like GM, want to make more money than just selling cars. Who will blink first is the big question.
Apple CarPlay allows you to enjoy the same smartphone-like experience in your vehicle. Tesla has never joined the CarPlay bandwagon. MacRumors posted a YouTube clip from Michal Gapinski who developed a system to allow Apple CarPlay on Tesla’s infotainment screen. According to the latest update, “100% Functional CarPlay Integration for Any Tesla” is now available. The video below shows Gapinski experimenting with CarPlay in a Tesla while also watching YouTube on what looks like an Android interface.
This is not just a CarPlay update. Gapinski needed to add several additional pieces of hardware to get this to work. On his website, he lists all the hardware required, including two Raspberry Pi computers with an LTE modem and an HDMI to CSI-2 converter for converting video streams into data. This is not an Apple CarPlay emulation, but rather an Android tablet emulation. A Linux version is also available.
It is also not for those who are weak of heart. To install Linux or Android 12 on your first Raspberry Pi you will need to know how to use terminal commands. You may also have to play around with other things in order to make CarPlay work. Gapinski suggests a small computer fan, particularly if the computers are hidden in the console. Expect some noise, though.