Apple Aiming to Begin Electric Car Production in 2020

[MacRumors]

Apple is hoping to begin production on the car project that it is secretly developing as early as 2020, reports Bloomberg. According to the site's sources, Apple is pushing employees working on the car to have it ready to go in five years, a timeline that will eventually allow it to compete with similar electric vehicles coming out from Tesla and GM in 2017.

The timeframe -- automakers typically spend five to seven years developing a car -- underscores the project's aggressive goals and could set the stage for a battle for customers with Tesla Motors Inc. and General Motors Co., both of which are targeting a 2017 release of an electric vehicle that can go more than 200 miles on a single charge and cost less than $40,000.

Apple's electric car plans first came to light last week, after The Wall Street Journal shared news of "Project Titan," an electric vehicle that hundreds of Apple employees are working on. Apple has been heavily recruiting automotive experts to join the project and plans to have a team of about 1,000 employees developing the car. Bloomberg says the team currently has about 200 members.

Tesla Model X​

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Over the course of the last few months, the company has picked up employees from companies like Tesla, Ford, GM, A123 Systems, MIT Motorsports, Ogin, Autoliv, Concept Systems, and General Dynamics.

As with The Wall Street Journal's initial report, Bloomberg's report is quick to point out that that Apple could decide to delay or abandon its car project all together if the company is unhappy with its progress. Apple works on many prototype projects that never make it to production.

Little is known about Apple's electric car at this point, but rumors have suggested that it might resemble a minivan and that it may or may not be self-driving.

Article Link: Apple Aiming to Begin Electric Car Production in 2020

 

[CrazyForApple]

I really hope not...

 

[gugy]

I am still skeptical about Apple jumping into car manufacturing. I see this more like developing other tech relate to cars than actually a car.

 

[Prof.]

Why not just buy Tesla?

 

[diddl14]

I don't believe it until I see the MacRumors Roundup...

 

[Jayy24]

so this is really happening... if they don't sacrifice battery life (and headroom) for thinness, that'd be great.

 

[kmj2318]

I'd really like to see Jony's influence on cars. Based on the recent article, I think he's taste in cars is good. I hate almost every car that's been out for the last few years, with random aggressive cuts everywhere.

 

[Dekema2]

I really hope not...

Every time I see these stories, I think of this video, no lie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw2nkoGLhrE

Apple wants to be a mega-conglomorate like Samsung: phones, fridges and ships. Except Apple will make cars instead of ships. The fridge is coming too, don't worry.

 

[aceys]

UGGGGG. I am NOT looking forward to 5 years of rumors with no product announcement. I'm already getting tired of them.

 

[thenightwatcher]

I just want a faster MacPro.

 

[jayro99]

crash

I hope this doesn't crash as often as my MBP2011 with "spinning wheel of death", "drive failure" or "boot issues"...

 

[mrtravel123]

I have very mixed feelings about all of this.

The worst thing is that we'll have 5 years of torture via different media sources beating this topic to death 24/7. I'm already worn out thinking about it.

 

[Waxhead138]

Why not just buy Tesla?

Sheerly guessing, Musk doesn't seem like the type to just sell. I think he's the type that would compete for the sake, or fun, of it.

I'm sure that's not the only factor, but it's a factor.

 

[GuitarDTO]

Well, that escalated quickly

 

[taptic]

Just realized that's only 5 years away...

 

[doubledge]

A minivan? Don't think so...

 

[Dekema2]

Why not just buy Tesla?

This is the logical option. Apple has too many competitors for its own good. Don't get me wrong, I want to buy all- everything too, but I have always had a natural affinity for Tesla and would not like the hypothetical choice I would have to make.

 

[Waxhead138]

I just want a faster MacPro.

You'll get one! Under the Hood of this Car! And, 2017-2020 lines right up with the MacPro Refresh cycle! I think I just nailed that one.

Yes, yes, you guys can now call me an analyst. My random hypothesis is out there.

 

[orioncrystalice]

Who else is waiting for the S model?

 

[Christian 5G]

Good to hear that other electric car company's will be making profits until 2020 when it is going to start declining

 

[misterpip]

Apple might just bring back the Hippie Mini Van. You just don't see them that much these days.

So much better than a car.

 

[groovyd]

am i the only one who thinks the X does not look at all like the minivan crossover soccer mom sized kids and a half dozen bag of groceries in the back thing i was led to believe it were to be?

looks more like what i imagined the III/E to look like.

 

[2457282]

the funny thing is that i just sold the last family car. we are now carless. with the advent of car sharing programs in most major cities. buying a car is no longer a given. only those in the suburbs or rural areas have to buy cars. us city dwellers can rent one by the minute, hour, or day. and with uber even that only happens on ocasions.

it will be interesting to see what apple is up to (i am not convinced it is an actual car) and how they market it. Remember there have been years of rumors about a TV but we have yet to see one. So not all rumors are actually true.

 

[Cloudsurfer]

Well at least you won't have to slap an apple sticker on the back of your car anymore...

 

[Nunyabinez]

UGGGGG. I am NOT looking forward to 5 years of rumors with no product announcement. I'm already getting tired of them.

That's the good part. Once it's released they'll make a new model every year that makes you have to sell the old one so that you can have the latest technology. JK.

Now we'll be able to hear all the owners of other car brands tell us how they had <insert feature> in their car two years ago, and we'll be able to hear all the diehard owners of apple cars defend themselves to the death.