much cooler!
I only referenced the other one because Marc Newson designed it, if there is any truth to this rumour, perhaps he's spent his time fiddling with something more adventurous than watches ...
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Hundreds of Apple Employees Working On Apple-Branded Electric Vehicle
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
much cooler!
I only referenced the other one because Marc Newson designed it, if there is any truth to this rumour, perhaps he's spent his time fiddling with something more adventurous than watches ...
So I doubt that Apple may work or investigate on such a project. I mean, forget about the iPod, iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch, entering the car business would be an even mightier and more spectacular step. And while saying this, letting cars drive around that really draw everyone's interest just don't seem match Apple's latest "doubling down on security" philosophy. Creating an electric car, probably no. Further developing on Car Play etc, I'm pretty sure. But who knows.
I'm just not getting this rumor. This is so far outside of apple's expertise and market direction that it really causes me to scratch my head,.
Look at the growing pains Tesla went through (and is still) because they have no dealership infrastructure and the regulations for years required this. I know times have changed in that endeavor, but selling cars is such a low profit margin high risk endeavor. It seems rather risky to even spend any money on the experiment.
Look at the growing pains Tesla went through (and is still) because they have no dealership infrastructure and the regulations for years required this. I know times have changed in that endeavor, but selling cars is such a low profit margin high risk endeavor. It seems rather risky to even spend any money on the experiment.
This rumour is garbage.
There is no way Apple would steer so far away from their core business, it's incredibly hard to make money in the car business and in the sort of profit margin Apple typically enjoy. Look how many car manufacturers have folded or been bought out in recent years. Tesla is losing money hand over fist and only a moron would consider buying them, I bet they go bankrupt in the next few years too.
The car driving around has also been analysed and intelligent consensus is that it's something to do with mapping.
There is no way Apple would steer so far away from their core business, it's incredibly hard to make money in the car business and in the sort of profit margin Apple typically enjoy. Look how many car manufacturers have folded or been bought out in recent years. Tesla is losing money hand over fist and only a moron would consider buying them, I bet they go bankrupt in the next few years too.
The car driving around has also been analysed and intelligent consensus is that it's something to do with mapping.
I imagine this rumor is true, but I doubt they're spending much money on it. Apple has so much money, they could conduct R & D on just about anything.
My guess is that Apple is hedging their bets when they realized Google was serious about their self driving car. The thing is, Google has been working on this for years now, and they've been very practical about trying to get self-driving slowly adopted by they 2020's. They're planning to license the tech to auto manufacturers who'll begin incorporating the technology in existing designs (according to Eric Schmidt in his book from a couple years back). The "Google Car" may never happen, and--additionally--they realize it will take time to get people to accept the new tech.
I think Apple has very little chance of ever bringing anything to production. Recently, innovation at Apple has meant buying awful "Beats," developing a laughably ugly and useless Apple watch, growing the iPhone into the super blandest thing possible, and making thin things even thinner. They're the new Microsoft. A giant, bloated, cash cow, living off their big accomplishments (latest of which, iPad, going on half a decade ago now). I'll be happy to see a bigger iPad, but that's about the extent of their innovation these days. No driverless cars for Apple.
My guess is that Apple is hedging their bets when they realized Google was serious about their self driving car. The thing is, Google has been working on this for years now, and they've been very practical about trying to get self-driving slowly adopted by they 2020's. They're planning to license the tech to auto manufacturers who'll begin incorporating the technology in existing designs (according to Eric Schmidt in his book from a couple years back). The "Google Car" may never happen, and--additionally--they realize it will take time to get people to accept the new tech.
I think Apple has very little chance of ever bringing anything to production. Recently, innovation at Apple has meant buying awful "Beats," developing a laughably ugly and useless Apple watch, growing the iPhone into the super blandest thing possible, and making thin things even thinner. They're the new Microsoft. A giant, bloated, cash cow, living off their big accomplishments (latest of which, iPad, going on half a decade ago now). I'll be happy to see a bigger iPad, but that's about the extent of their innovation these days. No driverless cars for Apple.
Interesting article about cost of developing a new car .... (If Apple spent 3 billion on beats.... This is a no brainer Even if it does not make it go the market... Just for the stuff apple will learn and discover in the process)
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/27/why-does-it-cost-so-much-for-automakers-to-develop-new-models/
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/27/why-does-it-cost-so-much-for-automakers-to-develop-new-models/
Just be sure to hold off doing any Apple software updates, until you're safely parked, in your garage, at home.
[/COLOR] There is a good reason it is the only way they allowed to market their cars in the US.[/QUOTE]
No true. I spent 12 years working for Honda and Toyota. The reason the build vehicles here is to maximize their profits and protect themselves from swinging exchange rates and shipping costs and time delays.
No true. I spent 12 years working for Honda and Toyota. The reason the build vehicles here is to maximize their profits and protect themselves from swinging exchange rates and shipping costs and time delays.
I hope it's a false rumour. I would like them put more effort in their current products line. A faster refresh cycle for their products (mini, cinema display,..) and update their softwares. A few years back you would see annual refresh of iWorks and iLife, now they seems to let go a lot of things. It's too bad they are doing so good, they don't have any pressure to fix that.
Tesla is still far away from being "mass appealing". Outside of tech geeks and car enthusiasts people don't even know a Tesla if they see one. Last November Tesla was doing a demo ride at my workplace and coworkers asked me what type of car is parked outside. And because of the extremely high price why should people even care?
And didn't I read this week that tesla sold less than 35,000 models in 2014. Maybe that's good for an exotic but thats far from mass appealing. And I see more Porche Panamera's on the road than I do Tesla's; a car which is recognizable from the front and back.
I would agree IF the only rumor we had was from BI. But WSJ and FT don't normally report garbage.
Marc Andreessen tweeted if Tesla can build car Apple certainly could if it wanted to. Heck, if Apple can spend $3B on a headphone company they can certainly spend a few billion researching electric cars and battery tech.
Last edited: