My point is I don't see Apple building a product that they can't brand and market as an Apple product. CarPlay is different because it's not that deeply integrated into the vehicle, it's mostly projected UI from the iPhone. Yes Apple has forged more enterprise relationships under Cook but the company is still primarily B2C not B2B. I have a hard time believing the next big thing from Apple will be an apple designed system that sits inside someone else's product. And is Ford going to want the same Apple designed system as Mercedes or BMW or will Apple be designing custom systems for each car maker? When Apple decided to make a smartwatch they didn't go to Omega or Tag or whomever and say 'let's build a watch together; we'll provide the software and guts, you build the watch', they made their own watch.
To say Carplay is just an overlay oversimplifies what Carplay is. It's very much integrated into carmakers systems which is why it took so many of them this long to figure out how best to do so. If it was just a patch-in like the iPod interfaces it would be something that would have been much quicker to implement.
And is Ford going to want the same Apple designed system as Mercedes or BMW or will Apple be designing custom systems for each car maker? But this already happens today. Ford, BMW, whoever, hires an OEM like Harman to design part of their system to their specs. In some aspects of the system Harman is silent, in others their is a silver plastic Harman-Kardon logo on the speaker. OEMs do not make cookie cutter products. They have a basic "recipe" and then modify it to the customer's needs.
When Apple decided to make a smartwatch they didn't go to Omega or Tag or whomever and say 'let's build a watch together; we'll provide the software and guts, you build the watch', they made their own watch. Well, first we don't know that. There were rumors that Apple did approach watch makers. Just because no one is talking doesn't mean it didn't happen. Both sides would have good reason to be silent. But most of all, making a watch and making a car two very different things, both in scale and expertise. The AW borrows from everything Apple has learned building iOS devices. Apple has no expertise in designing things that move many miles a day at high speed. Apple does have experience building systems, which is why I made my comment. Lots of money there w/ out all of the risk of trying to make and sell the actual cars.
Also, I never said this was the "next big thing" for Apple. I don't know why you keep saying this. Apple can have multiple faces -- a consumer side, and a backend industrial side, no? It's not a new concept. A lot of companies make consumer goods and radiology equipment (Philips). Consumer goods and industrial packaging (Honeywell). Consumer goods and drilling rig motors (GE). Why are you trying to box Apple in as only capable of being a consumer company?