“As Tesla moves deeper into autonomous car tech, its CEO, Elon Musk, sees one tech giant as a potential competitor — and another as not,” Mark Bergen reports for Recode.
“‘Google’s done a great job at showing the potential of autonomous transport, but they’re not a car company,’ Musk said Wednesday night at the Code Conference. ‘So they’d potentially license to other companies… I wouldn’t say they’re a competitor,'” Bergen reports. “What about Apple? ‘Yeah,’ Musk replied. ‘That’ll be more direct.'”
Bergen reports, “‘I’d think there will be volume production no sooner than 2020,’ he said about Apple. ‘Is that too late?'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: No, Apple’s not too late for what they’re planning and Musk knows it – or he’s deluding himself already.
Apple were considered to be late offering their music players, smartphones, tablets and more recently their large screen smartphones and smart watches, but rapidly became the most successful brand in each of those categories.
The important thing in business is not who starts first, but who finishes in the best position.
Apple will also be able to include the latest technology advances.
I continue to be unable to take Google’s autonomous car strategy seriously. I can’t even imagine any car company wanting to mount their spinning camera gear on the top of their car. It’s a ridiculous kludge.
Apple? We’ve seen nothing yet. But we know Apple is spending massive R&D ca$h on something and we know some of it has to do with cars. If Elon Musk believes in Apple cars, I do too. Sadly, an Car is not going to placate the cocaine psychotics on WallNut Street any time soon.
😬😬😬😬😬
Very true Derek. Even if Google marketed their own car its hardly going to have much cache in the market place compared to Tesla or Apple amongst others. But as Musk says its far more likely to do an Android and as a result a series of low earning, half hearted kludges will hit the roads (literally most like). Problem for them is its all or nothing and that solution is going to be very difficult to sell even with all the delusional sales talk by its acolytes and those of the tech generally. Tesla and no doubt Apple and indeed most of the industry see a gradual trend that will be much more acceptable to the buyer/operator and allow the cars to be something rather better than irrevocably compromised designs their approach dictates.
Regarding: ” I can’t even imagine any car company wanting to mount their spinning camera gear on the top of their car. It’s a ridiculous kludge.”
That’s a little harsh don’t you think. After all Google doesn’t have anything from Apple to copy. 🙂
…Or anything more from Oracle/Java to ripoff. Google has some work to do to get the hang of integrating software and hardware. They ain’t no Apple. But it would be kewl if they keep trying, the right way: By inventing.
Have to remember Google is a software company primarily. Focusing on how ‘bad’ a particular piece of HW will miss the point that the software could have a layer to easily switch to say 6 stable sensor points around the car providing the same data to the software for example. Also Elon musk not considering Google as a competitor doesn’t necessarily exclude Google Car tech in existing competitors’ vehicles.
Whatever happens, it`s going to be interesting to watch.
Indeed a long way to go yet in the electric car World, the main car companies are barely dipping their toes in and won’t be doing anything of a killer nature by 2020 most like and while Tesla are doing a great job I doubt that they will be in any position to shut Apple out by 2020. As long as Apple do a great job from an innovative and highly integrated nature they will certainly be a beast in the market. I will say that it will become increasingly difficult every year delayed beyond that however unless their product is truly special.
Don’t be so sure on that! Whatever Apple does Google does, just a matter of time before Google joins in the fun!
Has Google executed on any hardware at all for a profit, Google is doing nothing but Wall Street-Geek pumping.
Chromecast? 😛
Two words: Hydrogen Fuel Cell
If Apple can come up with a viable solution to having cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells, then it would be an absolute game changer.
I have my doubts about whether it will be possible within 4 years or so, but I do believe that it’s likely to be a more practical option than rechargeable batteries unless there is a truly massive increase in battery density and an equally dramatic reduction in charging times..
Reply to a Hydrogen Fuel Cell.
It is a bag of hurt.
“In 2020, they’re not just going to walk in…”
“I mean, just putting on the second coat now Mr.McFly.”
There are 27 models of EVs — pure & hybrid — for sale in the US in 2016 according to this (incomplete!) list of clean vehicles: http://cleantechnica.com/car-answers/
The list is incomplete because I know Toyota offers hybrids in models other than the Prius; for example, you can get a Camry with an optional hybrid drive that gets 40 mpg. And Lexus, which his Toyota’s luxury brand, also sells hybrids — my wife has been driving a RX 400h (the “h” is for hybrid) since 2006; and they have other hybrid options, besides. (Although the article does hows 4 different BMW electric vehicles. So much for consistency in reporting.)
Yet the complete changeover to electric cars will be a long process. More importantly for companies like Apple, there are other huge disruptive changes coming, that go way beyond switching fuel types. Technology will be a massive disruptive force. That is right up Apple’s alley.
Your car, your bus, your truck transport: where Technology meets the Liberal Arts. Apple has plenty of time to get their marble in the game.
Musk is running a company that is launching satellites and soon astronauts into space. Another that is installing rooftop Solar systems. And another that makes the best electric cars on the planet.
At the same time Apple bought an overpriced headphone company, is losing the streaming video market, has a line of overpriced and underpowered Macs, has destroyed the functionality of iTunes, hired a merchandise head of a fashion house and assumed a ton of debt.
I own Apple stock, but I also own Tesla and think they have a very bright future.