THE APPLE CAR RUMOUR: LATEST LEAKS
Apple Car: Release date rumors
Will Apple produce its own car, or will it rely on major manufacturers?
Apple will most likely rely on Foxconn and other companies to mass-produce the Apple Car. This is absolutely true. Apple doesn’t want big car manufacturers, and therefore competitors, to produce Project Titan.
Has Apple had talks with Hyundai, Kia, BMW, and others about producing the Apple Car?
Yes, that is true, but that is no longer the case. Apple patents dozens of ideas every day, 90% of which never see the light. Not because I don’t like them, but because people are confused after being told things that journalists know are not true or confirmed in any way.
So here’s an overview of everything that has been said about the Apple Car, what I believe to be true, and what I know about it, according to my sources.
Project Titan
Rumors about Project Titan all started with a report about Apple preparing to produce an electric car back in 2015. Apple’s initial plan, I hear, is to target the premium audience and potential customers. Personally, I’m frustrated by how many articles are written about what is internally and now externally referred to as Project Titan. There’s no way we will see this car on the market before 2027, and that’s an optimistic timeline.
There are rumors that suggest the Apple Car has self-driving systems like Tesla and others do. But if anyone tells you that Apple will simply partner with another major automaker to do that, it’s not true at all.
Apple indeed had talks with Hyundai and Kia. So don’t get too excited about a supposedly soon launch, because it won’t happen. Apple knows well that Tesla and others dominate the electric vehicle market with a value of $30,000 to $100,000+. Be it a supposed leak about a partnership between Apple and Hyundai, Kia, etc., to mass-produce the Apple Car, something about the design, or even a statement from Elon Musk. At some point, Apple will try to compete with other companies at a lower price point, but to do that, they first need a solid reputation that they don’t have yet as a car manufacturer.
Will the Apple Car come to market soon?
No. Is that true?
Yes and no. Most likely, it will even have to wait until 2030. Those carmakers, nor any other automakers will produce the Apple Car.
I’ve heard the Apple Car will just be software and implemented in cars from various manufacturers, rather than being a fully functional car. At a certain point in development, around 2018, Apple felt that it would be too difficult to make a car without much experience in this area and considered this idea, but that is no longer the case.
Will the Apple Car be expensive?
Apple Car Concept Renders Idrop News 1 1000x600iDrop News / Erick Martinez
This is a very good question, and the answer is yes. It’s true, and it’s here to stay.
Apple wants its own car. Both brands have confirmed this, but that is no longer the case, and probably never will be again.
Apple will have a couple of suppliers for the car, but none of them are major automakers. ou’ve probably heard about the Apple Car at least once over the last five years – basically, every technology-related media outlet has reported on it. They will not, as I told you before, but Apple has a lot of real-world testing to do, and they chose Lexus for it.
There are journalists who base their reports about the Apple Car on Apple patents. My sources say that Foxconn will do most of the manufacturing.
I have also read that the Apple Car will be ready by 2024. That doesn’t mean Apple’s going to rely on Lexus. As a general rule, you shouldn’t trust those reports.
Where's the Apple Car being built?
Apple is, as many people know, a computing company with absolutely zero experience building and selling cars.
Evidentially the big brands don't want to end up as "the Foxconn of the auto industry", referencing the Taiwanese company best known for manufacturing iPhones and other products for the company.
Right now the frontrunner for Apple Car construction is said to be LG and Canadian auto-parts manufacturer Magna. Apple is also said to be considering partnerships with General Motors and European car maker PSA, who may help the Apple Car launch in international markets.
Apple is reportedly looking to South Korea to at least supply the components for building the Apple Car, as well as the batteries. So the prospect of it actually building the Apple Car itself is kind of laughable.
It's more likely the actual manufacturing would be outsourced to a different company with all the relevant resources already. While there's no shortage of automakers out there, it's been reported that many of them are hesitant about being involved with the Apple Car. manufacturing conditions are true, it's likely the company is still looking at assembling the Apple Car in the U.S. That will form the basis of the Apple Car's first chassis. Magna has manufacturing plants all over the world, so it's not clear which ones would be used to build the Apple Car.
Meanwhile Apple has reportedly demanded any battery partners manufacture the Apple Car's batteries in the United States, something that has apparently caused some bad blood between Cupertino and some potential Chinese partners.
Earlier this year it was reported that Hyundai was the frontrunner for Apple Car, though it's since been reported that Hyundai isn't particularly interested in developing a car under someone else's name. There have been reports that the Kia deal isn't completely dead, though we haven't heard anything positive on that front in the months since.
Ming-Chi Kuo has also claimed that Apple is partnering up with Hyundai to use its E-GMP battery electric vehicle platform. If previous reports about Apple's U.S. For reasons subsidiary Kia was brought on board as a replacement — with the goal reportedly being to produce the Apple Car at its plant in Georgia.
Unfortunately talks broke down after news of the potential deal leaked, with Apple "pausing" talks and looking elsewhere.
Apple Car: Development history
Dave Scott who led robotics teams, Jaime Wayde who led autonomous driving safety and regulation teams, plus Benjamin Lyon who helped put together the original Apple Car team all those years ago.
The first wave reportedly came in 2016, while another 200 were reportedly moved off the project as recently as January 2019.
What we do know for sure is that these cars weren't the same vehicles the company used to collect data for Apple Maps.
That said, hiring engineers from the likes of Mercedes, Tesla, and other big car companies confirms Cupertino has some sort of automotive ambitions. That's been compounded by the loss of auto-industry veteran Doug Field, who oversaw the Apple Car project, to rival automaker Ford.
Considering reports claim thousands of employees have been working on the Apple Car, these layoffs and staff departures probably won't have any serious impact on development.
A Bloomberg report also reports that the Apple Car has lost three executives in early 2021. Of course, we don't know for sure, and we likely never will, even if the Apple Car does arrive mid-decade. It's not clear what happens in both cases, though it was suggested that management didn't really know where the self-driving car project was going. The history of the Apple car goes all the way back to 2014 under the name "Project Titan," purportedly with the goal of releasing it to the public in 2020. But mass layoffs suggest that Apple Car development has not been totally smooth sailing. Apple has always kept those details close to its chest, like it does with everything else, so we don't have any official statements on what these cars were up to. Obviously that never happened, but reports seem to suggest that some progress is being made on making the Apple Car a reality.
We have had glimpses of some sort of Apple affiliated vehicle, supposedly testing self-driving tech, throughout California
The first wave reportedly came in 2016, while another 200 were reportedly moved off the project as recently as January 2019.
What we do know for sure is that these cars weren't the same vehicles the company used to collect data for Apple Maps.
That said, hiring engineers from the likes of Mercedes, Tesla, and other big car companies confirms Cupertino has some sort of automotive ambitions. That's been compounded by the loss of auto-industry veteran Doug Field, who oversaw the Apple Car project, to rival automaker Ford.
Considering reports claim thousands of employees have been working on the Apple Car, these layoffs and staff departures probably won't have any serious impact on development.
A Bloomberg report also reports that the Apple Car has lost three executives in early 2021. Of course, we don't know for sure, and we likely never will, even if the Apple Car does arrive mid-decade. It's not clear what happens in both cases, though it was suggested that management didn't really know where the self-driving car project was going. The history of the Apple car goes all the way back to 2014 under the name "Project Titan," purportedly with the goal of releasing it to the public in 2020. But mass layoffs suggest that Apple Car development has not been totally smooth sailing. Apple has always kept those details close to its chest, like it does with everything else, so we don't have any official statements on what these cars were up to. Obviously that never happened, but reports seem to suggest that some progress is being made on making the Apple Car a reality.
We have had glimpses of some sort of Apple affiliated vehicle, supposedly testing self-driving tech, throughout California
Apple Car autonomous driving
A level 5 autonomous system in other words. With this in mind Cupertino has been reportedly hiring engineers to test and develop safety features that would enable such a system to be allowed on the roads.
Apple is also said to be looking for software engineers to develop “experiences for human interaction with autonomous technology,” and focus on the interior car experience. Because people need something to do when they're not driving.
It's not entirely clear whether this would make the Apple Car a machine you own, or an Uber-like service that you hail. However it was never clear whether this would be limited autonomy, like the Level 2 autonomous driving systems currently on the road, or if Apple was aiming for a true self-driving car that didn't need any human interaction.
According to Gurman's Bloomberg report, Apple had been working on both systems — but recently combined the work into a single unified autonomous car.
Apparently the goal is to develop a 'hands-off' driving experience that wouldn't have any ability for a human driver to control the car. One of the long-standing Apple Car rumors is that it would be a self-driving car of some kind. previous rumors suggested it would be the former, but either way it's going to be a big change for modern motorists.
APPLE CAR SPECS AND EXPECTATIONS
As per diagrams, these airbags would be installed in the roof and instrument panels, ready to be deployed across the entire cabin space, deflecting airborne hazards from any angle.
In June 2019, Apple acquired autonomous vehicle startup Drive.ai, further suggesting a commitment to ensuring its vehicular debut would be autonomous in nature.
So, to round-up, expect the Apple Car – if indeed it is a car – to be electric, self-driving, heavily integrated with iOS, have technology-packed self-tinting windows, neat new safety features, a market-leading driving range and possibly no steering wheel. A neat idea, in our book.
In terms of other features we can expect from the Apple Car, the jury is out, although there's several assumptions we can make based on the company's existing products and industry partnerships.
One of those assumptions is that the Apple Car will almost inevitably be deeply integrated with iOS, meaning, in some capacity, your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and maybe even your Mac could have a big part to play in the functionality of the vehicle.
The first is its autonomous nature.
Apple Car patent
That last one is worth taking with a hefty pinch of salt, though, since we've also spotted another patent which details a system of "windshield area intrusion control" to prevent flying objects penetrating a car's windscreen.
Given Apple's ongoing research into next generation battery technology, we can also expect the Apple Car to come equipped with a range and efficiency to exceed any other electric car on the market right now. Despite the deadlock in production, the Apple Car project has been in a state of continuous development for several years, meaning there's some semi-concrete rumors regarding features of the upcoming, potentially fully-electric vehicle. Naturally, you'd expect such a system to concern a glass windshield rather than a VR-enhanced environment, but it could still refer to a more general safety feature protecting occupants of the Apple Car.
In this patent, Apple proposes a new type of airbag wall which, instead of cushioning a single occupant, could be put in place to cover the windshield area completely.
What's more, the company has reportedly held talks with four different suppliers of LiDAR sensors – that's the lasers that measure depth and distance – suggesting the Apple Car might bear resemblance to the planned fleet of self-driving vehicles from Intel.
The latter suggests an attempt by Apple to integrate technologies that could fit into a single car window pane, those which allow passengers to see out, but be shielded from those looking in. The patent details how VR headsets could be worn by passengers in a self-driving car, rendering virtual windows with a view of the outside world – or indeed any world that the occupants of the car wanted to go through.
Even more exciting is the patent's supposed automation features, with sensors allowing the window to vary its tint or reflectiveness in response to external weather conditions – say, when the sun is beating down on the open road.
Ironically, another Apple patent filing, uncovered in March 2018, also suggests plans to rid the car of any windows at all.
With Tesla, too, hinting at plans to offer its Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode – which allows vehicles to maneuver around objects and navigate turns without driver intervention – to customers through a monthly subscription service, it's clear the technology for autonomous, mass-market vehicles exists, at least in some capacity. As part of those recent admissions by Apple insiders, the company has now reportedly opted to shift away from plans to create a vehicle with limited self-driving capabilities, or even standalone software, to instead focus on an Apple Car that requires zero driver intervention.
Apple's revised strategy is so ambitious, in fact, that Bloomberg claims the company is now aiming to develop a car with no steering wheel or pedals, and an iPad-like infotainment system in the center of the cabin.
A very early artist's impression of what the Apple Car might look like (Image credit: MagicTorch.com)
A lack of steering wheel and pedals isn't the only wacky design rumor we've heard, though. Then, in 2021, the company hired a “Radar Test Engineer”, whose responsibilities included.
In November 2021, though, Apple's autonomous plans were laid out a little clearer.
Reported patents include an in-vehicle system that warns riders about what an autonomous car would do, as well as, perhaps more interestingly, a car window that can alter its transparency and tint. While Apple does its best to keep plans a secret, regulatory filings and patent requests do provide some factual insight into its activities.
After the issues encountered with Volkswagen in 2018, it was reported that Apple would turn its attention to developing autonomous software for vehicles, rather an entire vehicle in itself.
In June 2019, Apple acquired autonomous vehicle startup Drive.ai, further suggesting a commitment to ensuring its vehicular debut would be autonomous in nature.
So, to round-up, expect the Apple Car – if indeed it is a car – to be electric, self-driving, heavily integrated with iOS, have technology-packed self-tinting windows, neat new safety features, a market-leading driving range and possibly no steering wheel. A neat idea, in our book.
In terms of other features we can expect from the Apple Car, the jury is out, although there's several assumptions we can make based on the company's existing products and industry partnerships.
One of those assumptions is that the Apple Car will almost inevitably be deeply integrated with iOS, meaning, in some capacity, your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and maybe even your Mac could have a big part to play in the functionality of the vehicle.
The first is its autonomous nature.
Apple Car patent
That last one is worth taking with a hefty pinch of salt, though, since we've also spotted another patent which details a system of "windshield area intrusion control" to prevent flying objects penetrating a car's windscreen.
Given Apple's ongoing research into next generation battery technology, we can also expect the Apple Car to come equipped with a range and efficiency to exceed any other electric car on the market right now. Despite the deadlock in production, the Apple Car project has been in a state of continuous development for several years, meaning there's some semi-concrete rumors regarding features of the upcoming, potentially fully-electric vehicle. Naturally, you'd expect such a system to concern a glass windshield rather than a VR-enhanced environment, but it could still refer to a more general safety feature protecting occupants of the Apple Car.
In this patent, Apple proposes a new type of airbag wall which, instead of cushioning a single occupant, could be put in place to cover the windshield area completely.
What's more, the company has reportedly held talks with four different suppliers of LiDAR sensors – that's the lasers that measure depth and distance – suggesting the Apple Car might bear resemblance to the planned fleet of self-driving vehicles from Intel.
The latter suggests an attempt by Apple to integrate technologies that could fit into a single car window pane, those which allow passengers to see out, but be shielded from those looking in. The patent details how VR headsets could be worn by passengers in a self-driving car, rendering virtual windows with a view of the outside world – or indeed any world that the occupants of the car wanted to go through.
Even more exciting is the patent's supposed automation features, with sensors allowing the window to vary its tint or reflectiveness in response to external weather conditions – say, when the sun is beating down on the open road.
Ironically, another Apple patent filing, uncovered in March 2018, also suggests plans to rid the car of any windows at all.
With Tesla, too, hinting at plans to offer its Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode – which allows vehicles to maneuver around objects and navigate turns without driver intervention – to customers through a monthly subscription service, it's clear the technology for autonomous, mass-market vehicles exists, at least in some capacity. As part of those recent admissions by Apple insiders, the company has now reportedly opted to shift away from plans to create a vehicle with limited self-driving capabilities, or even standalone software, to instead focus on an Apple Car that requires zero driver intervention.
Apple's revised strategy is so ambitious, in fact, that Bloomberg claims the company is now aiming to develop a car with no steering wheel or pedals, and an iPad-like infotainment system in the center of the cabin.
A very early artist's impression of what the Apple Car might look like (Image credit: MagicTorch.com)
A lack of steering wheel and pedals isn't the only wacky design rumor we've heard, though. Then, in 2021, the company hired a “Radar Test Engineer”, whose responsibilities included.
In November 2021, though, Apple's autonomous plans were laid out a little clearer.
Reported patents include an in-vehicle system that warns riders about what an autonomous car would do, as well as, perhaps more interestingly, a car window that can alter its transparency and tint. While Apple does its best to keep plans a secret, regulatory filings and patent requests do provide some factual insight into its activities.
After the issues encountered with Volkswagen in 2018, it was reported that Apple would turn its attention to developing autonomous software for vehicles, rather an entire vehicle in itself.
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