If that's the case, why didn't he use those terms specifically instead of the term "project apps"? Musk picks his words carefully and I suggest we interpret them just as carefully. I would not assume he was talking about CarPlay or Android Auto, because if he were, he would have used those terms. By using the word projecting, he is being very specific and saying that the center console will be used as a display device only. Projection to a display device does not necessarily include interactivity with that display device.
I responded to both of these questions/concerns earlier in the thread, but I think as we should all be quite aware by now that Elon does
not pick his words carefully. The opposite, in fact, saying whatever he believes to be true at any given moment. It's refreshing to hear a CEO to speak unfiltered, but at the same time you have to be careful how much you read into what he says.
As noted, though, if he does intend to do a raw mirror of the display, it rules out iOS devices being supported while the car is in motion. I checked the documentation and, as suspected, it's not possible to filter video from an AirPlay mirror. The only option to comply with the law in the US would be to allow iOS devices to work when stationary. I'm not familiar enough with Android to see what the options are there. I know we have some Android developers here, perhaps someone could take a look.
There's the open-source MirrorLink alternative (essentially a 3rd-party CarPlay/Android Auto), but again, it doesn't work on iOS.
I don't believe the Model S can support CarPlay without additional hardware. If it could, Tesla would certainly have labeled the car as "CarPlay capable" or something along those lines, knowing how much Tesla loves to advertise features that don't exist yet.
It shouldn't require additional hardware. The display runs Linux, which CarPlay supports. The display has access to a USB port, which is necessary for tethered CarPlay. The requirements for wireless CarPlay are still unclear, but having both Bluetooth and WiFi means there's a pretty good chance it could do that as well. The car might have to be the WiFi access point, though, not the client, which may prevent the wireless feature.
Who knows what he actually means, and it'll probably be years and years before we even get a clue, but it seems pretty unlikely to me that display mirroring is a realistic option.