The Apple Car has been a buzzword in the automotive industry for many years, with speculation that the tech giant could enter the market at any given moment. But is it really happening? Will Apple create an autonomous technology like electric car and Tesla motors? In this article, we dive into what we know so far about the Apple Car and whether it will or won’t materialize in the near future.
Apple electric car project
The Apple electric car project, codenamed “Titan”, was first announced in 2015 as part of the company’s long-term plans to develop an autonomous vehicle or self driving car. Initially, there were reports that the Cupertino giant may be working on a self-driving minivan. Since then, however, rumors have suggested that the company may be developing a full-blown premium electric vehicle for consumers.
The development of Titan has been shrouded in secrecy since its announcement and very little is known about the finer details of the project. However, various anonymous sources suggest that Apple is planning an aggressive launch schedule with the goal of unveiling its first car by 2021 or 2022. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that many industry insiders are speculating about Apple entering into what could be one of the world’s largest consumer markets. Industry analysts believe that such a move could potentially disrupt traditional carmakers who have relied heavily on internal combustion engines for years with very little innovation on sustainability and fuel efficiency. Only time will tell if Apple is able to pull off their ambitious plan to revolutionize personal transportation but they certainly appear intent on making a big splash and leaving their mark in an ever-evolving auto industry.
Apple Car
Apple has been working on a project to develop a fully autonomous car from the ground up. The Apple Car aims to revolutionize transportation and mobility with transformative features that could have far-reaching implications for our future lifestyle. For example, this self-driving vehicle is set to provide passengers with advanced comfort and convenience by leveraging Apple’s many patented technologies, such as: machine learning and artificial intelligence. It is expected that the car will also incorporate innovative functions such as adaptive cruise control, improved safety systems and even 5G connectivity options.
In addition to introducing advanced technology, Apple’s goal for the car is to make it more accessible than ever before. To do this, they are looking at innovative financing models that could allow more people to own their own self-driving vehicle without breaking their bank account. Apple also plans on integrating their existing services like iTunes into the driving experience in unique ways. As apple continued work continues progress on what will ultimately be an impressive achievement, consumers anxiously anticipate its release on the open market.
Everything We Know
Apple’s car project has long been shrouded in secrecy. Nonetheless, there have been a few key details that have trickled out over the years since the project was first announced. In terms of its contents, it is believed that the Apple Car project involves several aspects including autonomous driving, interior and exterior design, power optimization, energy efficiency as well as other various components essential to any electric vehicle. In addition to this in depth internal development process, rumors suggest possible partnerships with major automotive companies such as Volkswagen or Hyundai-Kia in an effort to accelerate progress on their upcoming electric vehicle.
When tracing the history of Apple’s car project, it can be seen to date back all the way to 2014 when multiple rumors regarding production surfaced from companies with connections to Apple such as Magna Steyr. Furthermore, recently two scientists for machine learning were brought onto the team providing evidence for speculations that Apple plans to use sophisticated AI capabilities and sensors along with advanced machine learning in its upcoming electric vehicles. Moreover, curious internet users noted Apple having numerous auto related domains registered which further solidified speculation about future plans for their vehicle development program.
Design and Self-Driving Capabilities
Apple had initially planned to revolutionize the automotive industry and create a fully autonomous vehicle or self-driving car with no need for driver interaction, but those reports have since been scaled back. Instead of creating a limo-like interior where drivers can completely rely on the car’s self-driving capabilities, Apple will now be taking an approach more similar to Tesla’s development route. Drivers will still be involved in manual mode driving, however they will be able to activate limited self-driving support while travelling along highways. The car design is expected to look much like that of other vehicles on the market with standard peripherals such as seats, steering wheels and pedals included.
Whilst Apple has had no trouble designing phones, tablets and computers – it appears now that they may have underestimated the market when attempting to create a totally independent driving environment. This new plan means that engineers and regulators must ensure safety levels are met before being able to allow these cars becoming widely available on roads; therefore it may not come as quickly as them transportation enthusiasts would like.
Chassis
The Apple Car project looks to be an ambitious undertaking by the company, with reports claiming former design chief Jony Ive is also involved as a consultant. According to initial designs, the vehicle would feature four seats that face inward for passengers to have face-to-face conversations, along with a curved ceiling reminiscent of a Volkswagen Beetle. However, due to shifting plans towards building a standard electric vehicle with some self-driving capabilities, the chassis design has changed and become more conventional. As of yet there isn’t a finalized design and it appears Apple hasn’t secured a manufacturing partner either. Despite this, the company is still aiming to finish the car’s construction in time for testing in 2025 and launch in 2026.
Apple have never had a major release in the automotive industry before but they look set on making sure their first car doesn’t go unnoticed. Having always strived for singularity both inside and outside of technology, this will only cement their image as an innovator across different market segments. It’ll no doubt be interesting to see what other features Apple can integrate into their first ever passenger vehicle too – one thing’s for certain – it won’t just be an ordinary car!
Infotainment System
The recent news of Apple’s potential foray into the car industry with an Apple Car design featuring a large iPad-like touch screen in the middle of the vehicle has sparked immense interest in the tech companies. The behemoth tech giant has already revolutionized our lives with its current devices and services, so it is no surprise that they are now turning their attention towards creating an all-encompassing infotainment system for cars.
This device could possibly feature streaming music, podcasts, maps and film/television services such as iTunes and Apple Music. In addition to this, users would be able to use popular communication apps like iMessage, FaceTime and Skype when inside the car. A further bonus is that existing Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad and Watch will also be able to be used seamlessly within this system. From handsfree calling to sending text messages without having to take your eyes off of the road; this device looks set to make driving safer than ever before.
Safety
Safety is a major focal point in the design of the Apple Car. Apple is prioritizing safety over all other considerations for the development of their autonomous vehicle, making sure that their vehicles are engineered to be safer than any other vehicle on the road.
Accordingly, Apple aims at developing a more secure vehicle than competitors like Tesla or Waymo by implementing additional safety measures and backup systems that can prevent driving system malfunctions, according industry experts’ speculations.
Even further, multiple sensors such as LiDAR, radar and cameras are expected to be integrated into the car’s many AI-driven systems in order to detect obstacles or potential hazards quicker and more accurately than current vehicles.
In terms of safety features, Apple has announced plans to add features such as lane change warnings and assisted emergency braking technology which can detect when someone may be at risk of a collision with another motorist. There is also talk of incorporating advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) technologies into the production versions of Apple cars which could help drivers with steering and braking while avoiding collisions with pedestrians or cyclists. These plans demonstrate just how seriously Apple takes safety when it comes to designing their autonomous vehicles, aiming to produce some of the safest cars out there by implementing multiple mechanisms.
Charging and Battery
The Apple car is looking to revolutionize the entire electric vehicle market. With the adoption of the battery technology and Combined Charging System, users of the Apple Car could easily utilize existing charging stations from other automakers, rather than having to install unique Apple specific charging hardware. This allows for a wider and more efficient access to charging stations, eliminating range anxiety from drivers who may not be able to find a native Apple station when in need of recharging. Furthermore, Apple is developing an innovative mono cell battery design that has the potential to drastically reduce costs and increase vehicle range by using active battery materials in a smaller package. Reports describe this technology as “next level” with some even comparing it to the first time people laid eyes on the iPhone – that’s how big this innovation could truly be.
Apple Car price
Rumors have been swirling about the release date and price of an upcoming Apple Car. Bloomberg reported that the proposed release date could be sometime in 2026, with a price tag below $100,000, essentially on par with the most expensive Tesla vehicles. This stands in stark contrast to previous speculation, which put the cost of the vehicle at over $120,000. It appears that rumors of Apple dialing back on its ambitions for this car may be true.
The suspense around the release of an Apple Car and its anticipated sticker-price are palpable among potential buyers and industry watchers around the world. As details slowly emerge from a variety of sources, people eagerly await any news they can get their hands on surrounding this highly-anticipated mode of transportation. Until then, all we can do is speculate as to what features will appear in this vehicle and whether or not it will truly compete with other high-end models currently dominating the market.
Why the Team Dissolved
In 2014, Apple assembled an estimated group of 1000 car engineers and designers to put together a project of unknown details. After this initial project was finished, a few vehicles began appearing with roof-mounted arrays of various sensors and a “Apple Maps” decal became visible. As it turns out, these were believed by some media outlets to be related to Apple’s development of street-view for Apple Maps, or even for the testing out semi-autonomous systems driving technology. However, when Tim Cook addressed these rumors in 2015 he denied that the sensors or cars had any purpose other than Apple Map improvements.
Despite the initially grand scale of plans that seemed in place, two years later (in 2017) it came to light that the ambitious autonomous vehicle project by Apple had been dissolved due to major issues. These included generational turnover among leading members as well as an apparent lack of foresight regarding inventive strategies that could have been used to further develop the product. Ultimately, their ambition ended only with their design/idea stage before it ever had a chance at becoming a reality on the roads.