Tesla, Rivian, and GM resist CarPlay: why major automakers won't give in
CarPlay is considered a must-have by most car buyers, yet three major automakers—Tesla, Rivian, and General Motors—still don't support Apple's platform. Their stance stems from a desire to control the user experience and a bet on proprietary technology, including artificial intelligence.
Tesla has never adopted CarPlay, instead focusing on its own infotainment system. In November 2025, Bloomberg reported that the company was actively working on CarPlay support, with a possible launch "in the coming months." That hasn't materialized yet, but in February, Mark Gurman clarified that Tesla and Apple were jointly refining Apple Maps to improve integration with autonomous driving features. Apple included the necessary changes in iOS 26.4 and showcased them at a developer session in June. The status of CarPlay implementation in Tesla remains unknown. If it does arrive, the feature is expected to appear as a "window within a broader interface," not a full replacement for the proprietary software.
Rivian, likely inspired by Tesla, also has no plans to introduce CarPlay. CEO RJ Scaringe has repeatedly emphasized that the company won't change its approach. He argues that users shouldn't have to switch between Rivian's system and CarPlay—everything should work natively. Last October, he said he was confident in the decision to create a seamless digital experience without the need to "jump between CarPlay and the Rivian environment." This year, he added that ensuring consistency across different platforms is difficult. Rivian's software chief Wassym Bensaid went further, suggesting AI will make CarPlay "completely obsolete" in the future.
GM also dropped CarPlay, starting with its electric vehicles, citing the need to integrate navigation with charging infrastructure and battery data. Unlike Tesla, GM shows no signs of reconsidering. All three companies see proprietary platforms as a way to stand out and control data, while Apple promotes CarPlay as a universal solution for all vehicles.
