If a fresh piece of information is anything to go by, Tesla is hard at works on an app store that could compete with Apple and Android. The rumor mill has been churning out speculations surrounding a Tesla app store for quite some time now. This app store will enable Tesla electric vehicle owners to download and install apps. This will be similar to downloading and installing apps on an Android or Apple smartphone.
To recall, speculations surrounding the app store began making the rounds online back in December. Apparently, the rollout of the latest version 11 update of the in-car interface for Tesla cars sparked this rumor. To recall, the popular EV (electric vehicle) maker had even added a customizable icon bar at the touchscreen’s bottom at the time. Last year, CleanTechnica suggested that Tesla would eventually launch an app store in a bid to keep Tesla car owners occupied as their vehicles drive themselves around.
Tesla App Store Could Be In The Works
Some reports indicated that Musk would unveil the app initiative in January, at Tesla’s latest earnings call. However, the 50-year-old business magnate did not shed light on the company’s rumored plan to launch an app store. Nevertheless, a recent tweet from Tesla investor, Sawyer Merritt seems to have reignited rumors around the EV maker’s plan to develop an app store. Merritt, who is reportedly “in the know,” took to Twitter on Sunday to hint at the imminent arrival of the aforesaid app store for Tesla vehicles.
Rumor has it something similar is coming soon to something with four wheels that starts with a T 👀 https://t.co/qBGPzZpbdE
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) February 5, 2022
In his tweet, the Tesla investor shared a video of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs announcing the App Store. “Rumor has it something similar is coming soon to something with four wheels that starts with a T,” he tweeted. Moreover, Teslascope retweeted the video without wasting time. For those who are unaware, Teslascope is a Tesla trip tracking app. According to Teslascope, Tesla has been hard at works on its own App Store since May last year. Aside from that, the tweet claims that the app store will go live before Tesla delivers the Cybertruck.
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Elon Musk Is Still Mum On Tesla’s Plan To Launch An App Store
Further in the tweet, Teslascope notes that Musk was expected to shed more light on the App Store at the earnings call. However, the SpaceX founder did mention that 2022 would be the year of “software.” Moreover, Teslascope notes that since the app store was not mentioned at the recently concluded earnings call, there is a possibility that its launch could’ve been pushed back. Nevertheless, the worldwide drivers’ platform claims that the app store has been in development since the debut of V11 UI with the radically overhauled Model S/X.
The rumor is out!
Tesla has been working on their own “App Store” since around May 2021 and will launch before deliveries of the Cybertruck.
This is what we expected to be shared during the earnings call, although @elonmusk did share this would be the year of “software”.
— Teslascope (@teslascope) February 5, 2022
However, it is worth mentioning here that TheDriven did not find Musk calling 2022 will be the “year of software” in his tweet, or anywhere else. Nevertheless, earlier this month, Musk tweeted that Tesla is not only a software but also a hardware company, in the car as well as in the factory. He noted that a lot of people fail to understand that.
Tesla is as much a software company as it is a hardware company, both in car and in factory. This is not widely understood.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 1, 2022
What To Expect?
If Tesla introduces an app store, it will catapult the already pioneering electric brand to skyrocketing popularity. Aside from that, offering an app store would serve as another revenue stream. Moreover, it will be an addition to a slew of other products such as self-driving subscriptions. Moreover, Musk had teased an app store for Tesla on a conference call. He notes that once cars become fully self-driving, drivers are likely to look for some sort of entertainment, as well as productivity options in the cars. He added that via Tesla’s “app store or whatever,” drivers want to work and play games. Furthermore, he noted that they will be adding some games.
Moreover, Volvo and Polestar feature Android Automotive which is integrated into their EVs. As a result, drivers can access vehicle-specific apps through Google Play Store. However, Tesla has already turned down the idea of integrating Android Auto and Car Play into its electric cars. In other words, Tesla may have been gearing up its launch its app store venture for a long time.
