Tesla VP Chris Porritt Recently Joined Apple's 'Special Projects' Group

[Mac Fly (film)]

Sincerely, if Apple Watch bands, the Apple Watch casing itself and Tesla cars and Tesla logo designs are any indication I see the main differentiator between an Apple Car and Tesla cars being design. When you really take a step back and look at the bigger picture what's great about a Tesla is the technology and the drivetrain. There are many cars more attractive and with nicer interiors. If Apple can manage to somehow match or come close to Tesla in the technology department I honestly see them eating their lunch when it comes to design. Take the Model 3 for example. As John Siracusa pointed out, if your car doesn't need a front radiator vent, you don't just put a blank where the vent would normally be—you go much further. In a million years I couldn't see Ive design a front-end how Tesla approached the Model 3.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

One can hope that the Apple Car looks something like an Aston Martin!

This^^^. Definitely, not like a Korean/Japanese inbred like Tesla's offerings to date.

 

[Kobayagi]

After discussing with other experts in the field, I've concluded that he joined Apple
to work on new Apple Watch straps.

Hahahaha, brilliant.

 

[ActionableMango]

You do not become a VP without some form of non-compete.

Non-compete agreements are void under state law in California.

 

[nt5672]

Non-compete agreements are void under state law in California.

Did not know that, thanks learned something today.

 

[Jakeoster]

I don't think Apple should (or is considering) creating a sporty car or a car in the traditional sense. I think it would be best as a utilitarian device with varying levels of trim. Like the Apple Watch. There is no difference between the cheapest and most expensive Apple Watch functionality, it's all in the trim.

Self driving, fully electric, virtually silent in the cabin, a glass roof with adjustable tint, a great sound system, and your iPhone is the brain/key. A new way of selling these vehicles would be interesting too and it appears Apple is open to experimenting in that realm.

If I want joy during my ride then there isn't much Apple can do to stop me from choosing my CBR600rr.

 

[Junior117]

After discussing with other experts in the field, I've concluded that he joined Apple
to work on new Apple Watch straps.

I laughed harder then I should have with this comment.

 

[T Coma]

“I think the most diverse group will produce the best product, I firmly believe that.” - Tim Cook

Clearly.

 

[v0lume4]

Well thanks for settling that for us.

We can all go home now.

No worries.

Are you not an Aston kinda guy/gal?

 

[farmboy]

Non-compete agreements are void under state law in California.

Broadly, yes. But if you're an owner (and Porritt *might* be considered one) non-competes can be valid. But even with that, there's been so much traffic between Apple and Tesla that I doubt anyone is interested in pursuing legal action. It would just be kind of pointless.

 

[69650]

I'm intrigued to see what Apple does with the smart car.

 

[vp719]

Aston Martin! Jony's favorite car: http://www.cultofmac.com/254380/jony-ives-cars/
He likes it so much he bought a new one after he crashed his first one.
[doublepost=1461081987][/doublepost]Also a fun bit of info from that article:

As well as being fast and powerful, Aston Martins are known for their innovative production methods. Their cars are built from unusual, lightweight materials like aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber. The all-aluminum chassis is glued together rather than welded, which makes it incredibly strong and resistant to cracking. Jony would soon introduce similar production methods to Apple’s manufacturing arsenal.​

This may be a stupid question, but is Apple's liquid metal technology something that could be used in a car? It seems like Apple has been sitting on liquid metal for years but has yet to really use it for anything

 

[Jakexb]

Taking over for Steve Zadesky, most likely

 

[iZac]

Is Musk already trashing this VP on Twitter?

 

[Keane16]

Your analogy is off.

You must have missed the 2nd word of my post. "Hope".

"The only thing phones before the iPhone didn't completely suck at was calling people, and even then, they weren't very good at it."

No idea how old you are or which handsets you used pre-iPhone, but can't agree with that at all.

A lot of the rest of your post I agree with. But my analogy wasn't black and white - as always there's grey areas.

Don't get me wrong I think Telsla are knocking it out of the park - my money is down on a Model 3. I just hope in 25 years I can look back at this period and smile at how excited I was for this car whilst looking at something unimaginably better parked outside my home.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

So the only people that join Apple are the people that couldn't make it at Tesla, huh? Sure did take them a long time to realise he couldn't make it there, he was a Vice President!

It's not that he couldn't make it there. It's that the wear and tear got to him. It's a stressful job. He got burned out.

I'm not being serious of course. Most likely Apple offered to give him a far bigger sack of money than Tesla was able to. You have to remember that Apple has 40x as much cash on hand as Tesla does.

 

[monstruo]

One can hope that the Apple Car looks something like an Aston Martin!

Well, let's cross our fingers and hope so!!
But we have Ive. He, very possibility, might go bonkers with the design.

 

[Sill]

No worries.

Are you not an Aston kinda guy/gal?

I'm definitely an AM fan. If I wasn't such a privacy proponent I'd post garage pics.

What I was responding to was the pre-judgement of Apple's effort. I just don't think Apple and their design efforts should be disdained until they screw up. If it leans toward Aston (which is heavily influencing Jaguar right now, among others), I think most of us would be pleased. If it looks like a Pontiac Asstek, though....