There have been rumors about Apple’s electric car for years. Now it will come onto the market later than expected – and will not be self-propelled either.
According to a media report, Apple has scaled back its ambitions in developing an electric car and is now aiming for a market launch in 2028. Instead of building a largely self-driving car, the iPhone company wants to make do with driving assistance functions, the financial service Bloomberg wrote last night. The change in strategy was decided after the board of directors met with Apple boss Tim Cook and project manager Kevin Lynch, it said, citing informed people.
There have been rumors surrounding Apple’s car project for years. The group is said to have shown initial prototypes to potential partners from the automotive industry years ago, but then, according to media reports, it was decided to focus on software for autonomous driving. All that is definitely known is that Apple is sending test cars converted into self-driving vehicles onto the streets in Silicon Valley. Former Tesla manager Doug Field, who was appointed project manager, went to Ford in 2021, where he is responsible for the electric car business.
Doubts as to whether Apple Car will even come?
One reason for Field’s departure was his doubts that Apple would even bring itself to bring a vehicle onto the market, wrote Bloomberg. The group had been working on drive technology as well as interior and exterior design for years, it said. The company’s hope is to complete a complete vehicle prototype with the reduced goals. Apple has already discussed the new approach with potential production partners in Europe, wrote Bloomberg.
Driving assistance technology can, among other things, maintain lane and distance as well as carry out overtaking maneuvers. However, the driver remains responsible and must be ready to take back control at any time. According to media reports, Apple actually didn’t want to bring its car onto the market until the software was ready for largely autonomous driving. But then the group realized that it would not be able to do this in the foreseeable future.
Sony also wants to bring an electric car onto the market
With driving assistance features, an Apple car would be more similar to today’s vehicles from Tesla and other manufacturers. According to Bloomberg, the company plans to upgrade capabilities later.
With a launch in 2028, Apple would not be the first electronics company with its own car: Sony wants to bring its electric vehicle, developed jointly with Honda, onto the market under the brand name Afeela in 2026.
Source: Stern
