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Apple Car Project Scaled Back and Delayed, Won't Feature Full Self-Driving Capabilities

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The most nimble manufacturers on the planet can't get a car out in THREE YEARS when supply chains are SMOOTH, never mind how they are now.

Think Apple's going to make a gas or diesel car? Won't fit their brand since they're trying to tout all their green initiatives. They're going to put out an EV?

Good. Flipping. Luck.

Try getting batteries. Lithium sources are being locked up for the next decade. Not just Tesla, but all the legacy manufacturers are now in on a "gold rush" trying to get lithium sources locked up. Then add BYD and the rest of the Chinese manufacturers doing the same thing.

Apple has *no* chance of getting a car into showrooms (whether they're independent dealers, which I hope they aren't, or company stores, which I WOULD hope for) by 2026.

We're not talking about some kind of integrated consumer electronic device. Has Apple ever had to make a chair? Has Apple ever had to navigate federal rollover safety rules? What Apple product has ever been tested by the NHTSA? ...or the EPA? Where are they going to manufacture the car? It takes YEARS to get a plant up and running in this country - and it better be in this country because if you try to pull off a "Tesla - Shanghai", you won't qualify for the tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act and, oh yeah, YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING MANUFACTURING PLANTS OF ANY KIND.

Look at the Tesla model and see how long THAT took. And, not for nothing, Tesla is the first new auto manufacturer to survive long enough to turn a profit in OVER 100 YEARS.

No, the "Apple Car" project made a lot more sense we saw that mockup of the "Car Play of the Future" where the entire dashboard and infotainment system was all-Apple. THAT made SENSE. Partner up with an existing car company (or companies) and let THEM outsource some of their manufacturing to APPLE - the whole User Interface part.
 
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"Apple wanted to create a self-driving car without a steering wheel or pedals, but has decided that such a plan is not feasible at the current time."

In other words, instant obsolescence when the iCar Pro is introduced with those features.
 
There is no Apple Car and there never will be. Those test units roaming the streets are for R&D testing of things like LiDAR that eventually filter down into consumer technology.

This is classic analyst speak all over:
“Apple are building a car!”
“Er, Apple have scaled back their car plans.”
Apple: “iPad Pro, now with LiDAR.”
“Apple are building a boat instead.”
“Apple have scaled back their SS Jobs plans.”
Apple: “iPhone 16. Now it floats if you drop it in water.”

It’s the exact same situation as their non-existent VR headset. Not even the designers at Apple can make that look less dorky.
 
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StuBeck said:
A car without a steering wheel was never going to happen. While its obviously something that could be researched, I'm not sure if anyone thought that is what they would release as their first product.
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Why not? Kids nowadays already know how to use a gaming controller to drive cars on their PlayStations and XBoxes. Hail, even my geezer self pull some decent time on Gran Turismo without a steering wheel.😉 Steering wheels are so 2020's. New cars RC remote style controller.😁

Long road trip and Dad is getting tired? Toss the controller to Jr in the backseat.🙃🙃🙃
 
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗 said:
Sure there is but I have heard people take the ferry ⛴️ to get to the Apple Store. So guess what! They’re not getting an Apple Car/iCar.

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An Apple Car could be in the Apple Store where people can sit in it.

The Car could be somewhere else to test drive. Maybe Apple has to develop the Apple Car Store to sell and service customers.
 
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As long as there are non-self-driving cars on the road, self-driving cars will never work well. If all the cars on the road could communicate with each other to keep safe driving distances, change lanes safely and brake properly, then I'd be all-in for a self-driving car. But the wild card of course is the increasing number of people on the road who drive as if they're in a GTA simulation. As long as they have the wheel, self-driving cars are pretty much pointless. Current computers aren't very good at dealing with recklessness.
 
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TheYayAreaLiving 🎗 said:
Wait! There is a bigger problem to solve. Can anyone answer this?

How is Apple going to showcase an Apple Car at an Apple retail store? Is there going to be a demo available for a test drive?
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There used to be a Tesla store in the mall, about 5 shops down from an Apple store. That's exactly what they did, there was a Model Y in the store, and a fleet of demo cars outside that you could take for a 30 minute test drive.
 
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djplong said:
The most nimble manufacturers on the planet can't get a car out in THREE YEARS when supply chains are SMOOTH, never mind how they are now.

Think Apple's going to make a gas or diesel car? Won't fit their brand since they're trying to tout all their green initiatives. They're going to put out an EV?

Good. Flipping. Luck.

Try getting batteries. Lithium sources are being locked up for the next decade. Not just Tesla, but all the legacy manufacturers are now in on a "gold rush" trying to get lithium sources locked up. Then add BYD and the rest of the Chinese manufacturers doing the same thing.

Apple has *no* chance of getting a car into showrooms (whether they're independent dealers, which I hope they aren't, or company stores, which I WOULD hope for) by 2026.

We're not talking about some kind of integrated consumer electronic device. Has Apple ever had to make a chair? Has Apple ever had to navigate federal rollover safety rules? What Apple product has ever been tested by the NHTSA? ...or the EPA? Where are they going to manufacture the car? It takes YEARS to get a plant up and running in this country - and it better be in this country because if you try to pull off a "Tesla - Shanghai", you won't qualify for the tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act and, oh yeah, YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING MANUFACTURING PLANTS OF ANY KIND.

Look at the Tesla model and see how long THAT took. And, not for nothing, Tesla is the first new auto manufacturer to survive long enough to turn a profit in OVER 100 YEARS.

No, the "Apple Car" project made a lot more sense we saw that mockup of the "Car Play of the Future" where the entire dashboard and infotainment system was all-Apple. THAT made SENSE. Partner up with an existing car company (or companies) and let THEM outsource some of their manufacturing to APPLE - the whole User Interface part.
Click to expand...

You are assuming Apple plans to build a complete EV from scratch. Much much much more likely they will partner with someone already making an EV and put their chips / sensors into it, slap an iPad on the dash and call it a day.

Do you really think Elon Musk visited Apple JUST to discuss twitter? LOL. and just days after this new announcement?

Elon has overspent and needs someone that understands supply chain to step in and make Tesla profitable.
 
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If, and that is a big if, Apple ever sells a vehicle will that essentially be Apple jumping the shark?
 
G5isAlive said:
You are assuming Apple plans to build a complete EV from scratch. Much much much more likely they will partner with someone already making an EV and put their chips / sensors into it, slap an iPad on the dash and call it a day.

Do you really think Elon Musk visited Apple JUST to discuss twitter? LOL. and just days after this new announcement?

Elon has overspent and needs someone that understands supply chain to step in and make Tesla profitable.
Click to expand...
That is true. If there is one guy Tim can discuss making an EV with it's Elon.
 
I think it is funny that no one mentions that Kevin Lynch also was the last guy in charge of Flash. He had an opportunity to make Flash work better with mobile phones and didn't. The Apple Watch was already a hit when he worked on it. I'm sure he's a smart dude and all, but I think we need someone with a history of shipping product.
 
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Make a good car that has some satisfying high-end tactile buttons and dials for A/C and heating fans and steering wheel controls. Provide horizontal screens just for infotainment and presenting driver information. Add four Qi chargers and give the car an authentic durable leather steering wheel and not some crappy “vegan leather” yoke that wears away and makes navigating a car park a pain.

And release said car.

Don’t wait around to perfect autonomous driving. I like driving myself, thank you very much. It’s meditative and gives the driver a sense of freedom, purpose and enjoyment. Heck, I even prefer a manual tailgate. Allow drivers to turn off most if not all autonomous safety features the car might have and most if not all verbal cues the car might give you, unless you specifically request the car to do so, by asking it a question.
 
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Apple-designed custom processor, you say? But happens if Apple releases a new Apple Music karaoke mode? Will it only work with the latest model? Does Apple expect us to upgrade our Apple Cars every year? Seems expensive. But oh so cool.
 
IIGS User said:
Does it charge via Air Power?
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No sir, Magic Mouse Charging seems more appropriate.

1670356551875.jpeg
 
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