Apple's Automotive Team Includes Former Tesla, Ford and GM Employees

[springsup]

It would be completely bizarre for Apple to actually be getting in to the automobile manufacturing business. I suspect this has much more to do with ancillary technologies like batteries, navigation, autonomous navigation, deeper auto integration, etc. Way too much of a departure from the core technology business.

I thought so, too, but with the number of hires from the automotive industry and the backgrounds these people have ("senior powertrain test engineer"), I'm less sure.

There are lots of plausible explanations, though. It's far from certain that Apple are considering building a car, and if they are what stage it's at. Does Apple have an ultra-experimental R&D department analogous to Google X? Perhaps that department is exploring cars (and Apple as a whole is far from committed), and the scale of the hires has simply been exaggerated. Perhaps they're working on new manufacturing tools and processes for updated versions of existing products.

You're right that it is too much of a shift. Not just in terms of product, but in terms of business models. Apple Stores aren't equipped to sell or demonstrate cars. Apple would need to essentially build dealerships, and then they'd face the same troubles Tesla did when trying to sell their cars directly to consumers. Tesla is just totally banned from direct sales in some states and in others (such as NY and Ohio), they have dubious deals where existing stores are allowed but new ones are banned. Even if Apple sorted this out, would it be worth it? The automotive industry already has a clear and established premium market, and even in that segment margins are much lower than Apple is used to (about 12-15%). Can Apple really get a higher margin on a car than Ferrari?

It really shouldn't happen. Apple would be much better served by continuing with consumer electronics.

 

[satcomer]

I can't wait to see how Samsung responds .

This is starting to look like a misinformation campaign!

I feel Apple either wants something like Google Street View or get CarPlay into more vehicles.

 

[VanZan]

There is one important name missing in that list: Julian Hönig, member of Apple's Industrial Design group and previously employed by Audi and Lamborghini. He also designed the Audi RSQ, Will Smith's car in i-Robot.

http://www.cultofmac.com/311880/apple-car-automotive-designers/

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

If there is one thing that doesn't scare me it is Samsung trying to build a car because I can't think of any korean made car that I would want to have, not for free. Hyundai, Kia (do they still exist?), Ssangyong some of the crappiest cars ever built come from over there.

Yeah I know what you mean but I was kinda running with the joke that since there was a rumor of apple doing it, Samsung will copy. Kinda like the whole iwatch thing. Apple announced they were working on a watch and then all of a sudden, there's 100s of them rushed to the market lol.

 

[KdParker]

Here you are wrong. I used a Windows Mobile based phone for three or four years before the iPhone appeared. The iPhone was not the first 'mobile computer for a phone'.

I used one of those early window CE phones too. They were are far cry from iPhone.

 

[DudeDad]

"Siri, please drive faster"

"I've found 4 references to speeding violations. Shall I read them to you"

 

[alexgowers]

If they really are making an Electric Car they could go very wrong.

If they create a great car that is has everything but an engine that can also drive for you then, yes massive success.

If they go the google route of ugly, driverless and without traditional manual control and odd form factors then yes it'll be a super fail.

I hope they are thinking along the lines of the former and have a patent on some key tech that does totally transform this stagnant area.

OPEC has such a hold over the energy market, it's amazing to see someone big actually looking at the market. Yes BMW etc have all tried but none have made a car that has the it factor, apple certainly can add that.

 

[Cole Slaw]

Any news on whether or not this this car would be made in China like 99% of their current products?

 

[LordVic]

Any news on whether or not this this car would be made in China like 99% of their current products?

if they're going to release the car in many different markets (that is if they're making a car),

liklihood is that no, it won't be predominantly made in China.

the Automotive industry, especially cars for the North American market, is very limited on where cars can be made with restrictions on imports.

it would be a curiossity for sure how Apple would handle different national regulations regarding automobiles.

Even in North America, between Canada and the USA, with almost identical driving laws, there are differences in regulations regarding car manufacturing. Where lights are placed. Colours of those lights, fender shapes, wheel sizes, bumper heights, mirror sizes.

there's no "one size fits all" for automotive. A Camry in Canada is a different build than in Japan, and China and Germany. This doesn't even include the difference in right hand vs left hand drive.

so basically, Apple making a car would have to have different manufacturing for each market they plan to sell this car in. And have product supply lines to cover for these variances in each market.