“A lot of people will be talking about news this morning that Didi is to buy Uber China in a deal valued at around $35 billion, a deal that puts Apple firmly in the ride-sharing market,” Jonny Evans writes for Computerworld.
“What’s setting speculation free is Apple’s recent billion-dollar investment in Didi and its widely reported Apple Car plans,” Evans writes. “Discussing the deal during last week’s financial call, Apple CEO, Tim Cook said: ‘We are making the investment for a number of strategic reasons, including a chance to learn about certain segments of the China market. Of course, we believe it will deliver a strong return for our invested capital over time as well.'”
“What is also interesting is Didi’s existing relationships with other Uber competitors including Lyft in the US, India’s Ola and Southeast Asia’s Grab,” Evans writes. “What that means is that for the cost of its billion-dollar Didi investment, Apple now has a stake in Uber and relationships with ride hailing services worldwide.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Expect the fruits of Apple’s “Project Titan” to positively impact the environment through technology and also very likely, by changing vehicle usage/ownership, especially in urban areas.
SEE ALSO:
Didi Chuxing to buy Uber’s China business in $35 billion deal – August 1, 2016
Apple has enough money to be owning entire markets if that’s the case. Apple is content to only own small pieces of any market. Lack of aggressiveness isn’t going to help Apple’s growth prospects at all. Only time will tell how much Apple is going to get out of this. I’m sure they’ll at least get the value of their investment back.
What every AAPL investor must remember, mac48, is that the DOJ, FTC, SEC, et al., will always oversee and invalidate ANY attempt by Apple Inc. to dominate a competitive market segment. Hence . . . the company is limited to strategic purchases of small, successful additive companies that generally fly under everyone’s radar. Would it be financially possible for Apple to buy a Microsoft or its like? Of course, given their massive capital horde. But no entity in DC would EVER allow such a move. Modern-day “trust busters” would never permit Apple to acquire a major company within their sector of operation. Never. Bowling shoes assemblers , maybe. Carpet manufacturing, possibly. But nothing computer/electronic related of any significance or consequence.
No-one, especially financial analysts, understands the deep and forward looking planning that goes on at Apple. The Titan project won’t be anything like the rumours and conjectures that have so far been put forward. Apple are masters at pulling a magic rabbit out of the magicians hat. This one is no different.
Free trips with Uber if you pay via ApplePay.
What if Apple introduces the Apple Car in China first? Never thought of that before…..
in China? want one of a thousand a self-driving Apple Cars to pick you up and drive you to a restaurant? Apple Über