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Kuo: Apple to Launch Apple Car in 2023 to 2025
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First, it took Tesla a total of 15 months from taking over their factory space until they released the Model S. Not a big deal, since they had been working on the design for a few years prior, just as Apple has been doing.
Contrary to the mythology, there is nothing in manufacturing cars that is some sort of voodoo magic known only to those with a century-long history in building cars. All the component suppliers are well known--glass, tires, brakes, electronics, steel, plastic, tooling, robotics, molding, wiring, control software, batteries, transmissions, etc, and Apple has tight control on their supply chains as a matter of policy. Experienced engineers are available and apparently already on the payroll in quantity.
Plus battery-powered cars are much simpler than internal combustion cars. The biggest issue will be battery supplies, and that is absolutely a logjam in the making. Everything else is nuts and bolts, and has been done a thousand times before all over the world.
When you think there are significant barriers to entry, you're looking at it all wrong. Apple has no vestigial, 1960's facilities, work force, locations, tooling, methodology, etc. Nothing they have to work around or hold onto. The barrier is simply some time and a pile of money, both of which they have in abundance.
As far as slim margins, ask Ford and Chevy how much they make on those pickups. And that's putting them together fairly old school.
You're underestimating how difficult and expensive is to make cars, electric or not. TESLA is learning that as we speak. Remember when Elon kept promising unit production and then subsequently eating crow?
It's an entirely different ballgame to manufacture enough, manage the inventory, and make money. It's a nightmare, which is why Apple chooses to use suppliers and assemblers for nearly everything except design.
Managing the supply chain is not easy, although Cook is a genius at this and could probably do better with Tesla than Musk.
There is nothing old school about modern Ford and Chevy plants.
So I have to walk around with a face assistant always on? The beauty of a phone is that I take it out when I need it. With glasses or a headset, it always needs to be on.
There is no ‘have to’ with any off this. Just like your phone, you’ll have various modes of operation, between ‘Off’, to ‘Do Not Disturb’, to ‘Overload My Retinas’. See Google Glass videos on YouTube if you’re curious.
"We expect that Apple Car, which will likely be launched in 2023–2025"
Not only is this predicting 5 years in the future but offering a two year fudge factor. This reminds me of the financial predictors who say "There is a 60% chance the market will do x" and later remind us ( when their prediction is wrong ) there was a 40% chance it wouldn't do x. It wouldn't surprise me if Apple isn't really sure of any delivery dates at this point. A lot can happen in that span of time to influence whether Apple pursues it. My feeling is analysts are paid to make predictions and some of their work serves to justify their own existence.
Not only is this predicting 5 years in the future but offering a two year fudge factor. This reminds me of the financial predictors who say "There is a 60% chance the market will do x" and later remind us ( when their prediction is wrong ) there was a 40% chance it wouldn't do x. It wouldn't surprise me if Apple isn't really sure of any delivery dates at this point. A lot can happen in that span of time to influence whether Apple pursues it. My feeling is analysts are paid to make predictions and some of their work serves to justify their own existence.
This wasn't a serious post. It was a reply to the post saying the Apple Car will cost $50k, and I was just making a joke about how Apple often tout their under-X-hundred-dollar price tag when it's usually only 1 dollar under said price.
I’m not at all underestimating any of it, as the whole process is exceedingly well known and done large scale and small everywhere. Why is it any more difficult than for MagnaSteyr or Konigsegg or dozens of other manufacturers?
Elon came from Paypal, and he hasn’t been known to keep his grubby fingers out of processes (and quality issues) he doesn’t understand, much to the detriment of almost everything his companies do. He’s been better with SpaceX than with Tesla.
Managing manufacturing is exactly what Apple does best, and everyone uses suppliers and subassemblers, it’s how modern manufacturing is done. As I alluded to, there is nothing in this that’s unknown or impossible.
Let’s face it, cars will depreciate faster the more software they use, to the point where owning one doesn’t make financial sense at all.
Doing it well is a completely different ballgame and so is being on the hook for the capital expenditure. I think Apple will use its iPhone model and will not be part of owning the actual manufacturing.
Apple is successful (the most successful company) in large part because they are supply chain masters. Tim Cook is THE best in the business. Many manage supply chains, but you’re making it sound like it’s some easy, well known process. It is absolutely not. There are people that manage it to the penny and basis point and those that have issues, like Tesla. Tesla doesn’t have enough sales...that’s their biggest problem, besides not being able to deliver the product.
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Of course they’ do it well. The capital expenditures—we’ talking Apple my friend, spending cash has never been a problem for them. Yes, Under Cook, Apple is the best. So why would that change? You think it’ll go south, I think they’ll do just fine.
no wonder it is taking them so long to develop the wireless charging pad 
Like a lease but includes insurance, routine maintenance, wear and tear, roadside assistance, and zero money down. Just upgrade to the next better car 24 months later. Here's a link about it. Call it AppleCar+ service
All glass, inside and out, and it only works on Apple qualified roads.
And instead of watch bands, Timmy Cook will sell you amazing steering wheel covers.
Seriously, though, I can't imagine this happening. They can't even update the Mac Mini.
And instead of watch bands, Timmy Cook will sell you amazing steering wheel covers.
Seriously, though, I can't imagine this happening. They can't even update the Mac Mini.
Something just occurred to me... How many buttons will the interior of the car have? Knowing Apple, not many. All jokes aside, Apple’s obsession with simplifying things (not a bad thing in general) could really backfire in a car where hard presses, swipes, etc. are a distraction to driving.
Apple never makes silly acquisitions or wastes money on manufacturing. It’s unlikely they’ll start now.
Well, in theory, none of these would be necessary if the car is capable of driving itself.
I agree that Apple does go overboard at times when it comes to simplifying interfaces, but when you look at the current state of cars today, they tend to have great hardware but crappy software. I do think that there is a lot of room for Apple to really innovate and differentiate their offering here, given their penchant for wanting to control the entire stack, their willingness to think outside the box, and their expertise in integrating both hardware and software.
I feel there is much Apple can do to shake up this industry in particular.
Working with BMW and Magna Steyer could also indicate a partnership similar to what BMW is doing with Toyota in the next generation of Z4 / Supra: common mechanicals with each company doing their own styling / features to make the car fit their brand. Magna Steyer already has a lot of experience manufacturing specialty vehicles for manufacturers; it would make sense for Apple to use their production capabilities, along with say BMW for the basic components, and use them to produce an Apple car. No need to invest a lot of money in production facilities, establish a supply chain, partnerships familiar with the regulations for bringing a car to market globally, and still have through the learning curve of building a car. Plus, they'd have the cache of the BMW brand's engineering. It's a similar model to how they currently produce products; if the are going to build a car that would be a way to quickly get one in production and learn about building it with a smaller investment. If they decide to go all in, they could buy Magna Steyer or even BMW. If not, they still gain a lot of experience for low, by car standards, up front costs.
Last time I looked, Tim was given a silver soon on his mouth.
How many satellites has spacex delivered into orbit? How many cars? Tim built nothing. Elon has built empires
Chevy already took that route with the Volt with electrostatic touch buttons. It’s both terrible to use and dangerous.
I think Apple will go the Tesla route and triple down on voice commands, possibly layered with a HU/AR overlay.
Still, I prefer the buttons and knobs of the new Jeeps.