While Tesla’s operating system is known for having tons of built-in features (included the ability to play AAA video games), there is one capability that is noticeably missing: compatibility with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Michał Gapiński, however, figured out a way to hack support for both on Teslas, using a web browser, two Raspberry Pis, a handful of plugins and cables, and Android.
Gapiński calls it the android tesla project (h/ta MacRumors for bringing it to our attention), and it does what its name implies: it provides an Android Auto interface that you can access through the car’s built-in web browser. (Shout out to open web standards, getting the job done as usual.) While this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a project like this, another developer got Android Auto working in the car’s web browser using just one app: emulating a full tablet is taking it to the next level.
That process isn’t exactly easy, which is to be expected since Gapiński is pitching this as an alpha. According to the Tesla Android Hardware Pageyou’ll need a Raspberry Pi 4 to run Android, a Raspberry Pi 3 or higher to run Linux (which is responsible for capturing the video and transferring it to your Tesla’s computer over Wi-Fi), add-on cards for HDMI and LTE, and cables to connect it all.
After going through the (long) program setup process and moving all the hardware into your car, you should be able to connect your Tesla to the Pi’s Wi-Fi network and enter an IP address into Tesla’s web browser, where you’ll be greeted by Android. From there, you can launch an app that handles CarPlay and Android Auto, giving you access to your phone’s native music interface, maps, and more.
based on a video that Gapiński uploadedthe experience doesn’t seem to be the most responsive (and navigation audio instructions apparently still don’t work), but it appears to be reasonably functional.
Again though, this project is still in development, hence the two Raspberry Pis. Gapiński’s site says that the requirement “might be removed in the future” and that the goal is for it to run on a single Raspberry Pi 4. It’s also a long way from being a one- or two-step installation process. The current instructions shouldn’t be too unfamiliar to anyone with a decent amount of Linux or modding experience, but I imagine they’re pretty intimidating for someone looking to plug and play. The Tesla Android Project about page states that the goal is to make installation possible “within minutes.”
While being able to run CarPlay is a major Tesla Android selling point, it can also work with Android Auto. Plus, there’s the whole Android tablet interface that you can also use for things like browsing the web or even running diagnosticsalthough obviously, you shouldn’t do any of that while driving.
There’s something charming about CarPlay being enabled through the competitor’s operating system, but the real magic here is all the work Gapiński has put into it. Even if you’re not ready for prime time, it’s great to see people add features to their cars in unexpected (and deeply nerdy) ways.