“Apple has remained silent about its plans for a 22,000-square-foot space under renovation in [Ottawa suburb] Kanata, or how its new vice-president of core operating systems, Sébastian Marineau-Mes, will build out the company’s Ottawa team,” Vito Pilieci reports for the Ottawa Citizen. “But in the rumours and discussion spurred by Apple’s pending arrival, some common themes are emerging. The most prominent is that its current space is just the beginning of what will become a much larger research and development centre that could employ as many as 200.”
“Apple is on a major research and development expansion, especially as it works toward creating new products, including some sort of Apple car or automotive-related product or service,” Pilieci reports. “According to Apple’s most recent financial filings, research and development expenses grew to $2.4 billion U.S. in the quarter ending in December, a 27-per-cent increase over the same quarter one year earlier. In fiscal 2015, R and D spending rose 34 per cent over 2014 levels to $8.1 billion U.S. Apple is aggressively gearing up for something big.”
“With QNX Software Systems Inc. across the street in Kanata, and with Marineau-Mes, an automotive software and operating systems expert and former QNX executive, in Apple’s employ, it’s not difficult to envision the third-floor office at 411 Leggett Dr. transforming into something much grander,” Pilieci reports. “QNX’s software runs on more than 50 percent of the automobiles on the road today… The people at QNX know what they’re doing, and Apple knows it. If Apple is preparing to give the world some bold new brand of automobile, then Ottawa’s technology sector is poised to help in its delivery.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Much speculation, indeed.
SEE ALSO:
Augmented reality and the Apple Car – February 2, 2016
Why Apple might acquire BMW – February 2, 2016
Apple Car: Jony Ive unhappy with ‘Project Titan’ progress, Apple implements hiring freeze, source says – January 25, 2016
Apple car: Will it be more like BMW or General Motors? – November 23, 2015
Apple’s visit to BMW factory fuels further rumours of possible partnership – August 3, 2015
Apple, BMW flirting with an eye on car collaboration – July 31, 2015
Apple said to be in talks to use BMW i3 carbon fiber body as basis for its own electric car – July 27, 2015
BMW: Our talks with Apple don’t involve developing or building a car – March 5, 2015
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Daniel Millar” for the heads up.]