Apple is reportedly rumored to be working on a completely autonomous self-driving vehicle, going further than any other automaker to yet. Apple is rumored to be designing a car with no steering wheel and no pedals. Despite internal turmoil and leadership challenges, the Apple Car project is still on pace. Despite claims in 2016 that Apple has abandoned automobile aspirations, it was revived by 2020.
Apple reportedly wants to speed up the creation of its long-rumored electric automobile, with a 2025 deadline.
Moreover, Apple is reportedly expanding its efforts on fully self-driving capabilities of the so-called Apple Car, according to Bloomberg.
Also, Apple had set a target of 2024 for a passenger vehicle with a new battery design to ‘dramatically’ lower costs and boost range.
With limited self-driving capabilities centered on steering and acceleration. Like many contemporary cars, Apple’s auto team has been exploring two approaches for several years. Producing a model with full self-driving capability that requires no human interaction.
Engineers are currently focusing on the second option. Under the new leadership of Apple Watch software executive Kevin Lynch. A person familiar with the discussions said Lynch is pushing for a car with complete self-driving technology in the first generation.
Apple Car Design
Insiders stated that Apple considered utilizing BMW’s i3 as the basis for its “Apple Car”. Apple and BMW apparently discussed a partnership. But BMW and Daimler reportedly stopped talks over who would oversee the project and own data.
The “Apple Car” concept, manufacturing collaborations, and sales/governmental difficulties were all mentioned in one German report. Magna Steyr’s Austrian division is one likely manufacturer.
No steering wheel, no pedals, and a cabin built for hands-free driving. The Interior of one alternative examined within the corporation resembles that of the Lifestyle Vehicle from Canoo Inc. And to make it feel more like a limousine, passengers are said to be seated along the sides of the car.
An infotainment system in the vehicle’s center, allowing customers to interact with it during the ride, is also an option. Aside from the usual steering wheel, Apple has explored an emergency takeover mode for the car.
While it’s difficult to pin down the aspects of Apple’s future car at this time, a Business Insider report from September 2017 gave us a hint.
Apple developers considered including:
Automatic silent-closing doors
No steering wheel or pedals (which would mean the car would have to be fully autonomous)
Interior displays with virtual or augmented reality for entertainment
Sideways-capable wheels
Development of a more aesthetically beautiful driving system to replace other companies’ bulky LiDAR systems
People familiar with the matter say the company just achieved a major milestone in the development of the car’s self-driving technology. For the first version of the automobile, Apple believes it has finished much of the key work.
Losses and Layoffs
Apple’s internal target release date for an electric car is 2021, however other rumors indicate the first-generation model won’t be self-driving. VP of Vehicle Engineering Chris Porritt may have taken over for initial project leader Steve Zadesky.
Apple hired Google’s John Giannandrea to lead its machine learning and AI strategy efforts in April. This may include self-driving cars that rely on the technologies.
Apple welcomed Jamie Waydo, a former Waymo senior engineer and JPL member, to the team in June 2018. A former NASA engineer and YouTube star, Mark Rober, reportedly helped Apple create VR systems for the vehicles.
Doug Field, Apple’s former vice president of Mac hardware engineering, returned to Apple in August 2018 after a five-year tenure at Tesla.
Prices of Apple Cars
It was said that we may assume the iCar will be priced similarly to Tesla’s current model. Because the two businesses are now rivals in the automotive market.
The 2015 Model S, Tesla’s latest electric car, costs £67,980 with the “tech pack”. Which we think an iCar would include as standard. If Tesla is the standard, the iCar will be expensive but beautiful.
Jefferies & Co’s tech analysts have entered the fray, predicting the price of Apple’s iCar. The team estimated the iCar’s price at roughly $55,000, or £36,000 at the time of writing. That makes it approximately half the price of Tesla’s Model S in the UK, giving the fruit-shaped corporation a competitive advantage.
Possible Partnerships
Apple is also said to be in talks with well-known automotive electronics manufacturers. For components for an impending vehicle-related product, and to be setting up a production plant in the US.
This isn’t the first time Apple has considered cooperation with Hyundai to manufacture the Apple Car. With intentions to move development to its Kia brand as part of an arrangement that may see production in the US.
Rumors stated that Hyundai Mobis will develop and manufacture various Apple Car components. While Hyundai Group member Kia would furnish the U.S. production line. Furthermore, Apple planned to invest 4 trillion won ($3.6 billion) in Kia Motors, with Kia set to produce the Apple Car in its U.S. factory located in Georgia.
Apple apparently examined Hyundai-Kia because it would give it access to an established manufacturer with North American production capacity. Apple also wanted full control of the Apple Car software and hardware. And not just a Kia model with Apple software.
Despite the speculations of an Apple/Hyundai-Kia alliance, Apple has halted talks and is in talks with other automakers about Apple Car. Apple reportedly objected when Hyundai revealed it was in talks with Apple. Even though Hyundai then repudiated and altered the statement.
