The so-called “Apple Car” electric vehicle will debut by 2026, cost under $100,000, and will not be a fully autonomous self-driving vehicle, Bloomberg News reports citing “people with knowledge of the matter.”
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
The car project, dubbed Titan inside the company, has been in limbo for the past several months as Apple executives grappled with the reality that its vision for a fully autonomous vehicle — without a steering wheel or pedals — isn’t feasible with current technology.
MacDailyNews Take: Duh.
We can see the Doonesbury strip already.
If Apple ever gets around to releasing the first iteration of their vehicle with “no steering wheel or brake pedal,” they should name that model “Boondoggle.” – MacDailyNews, July 11, 2022
In a significant shift for the project, the company is now planning a less-ambitious design that will include a steering wheel and pedals and only support full autonomous capabilities on highways, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private.
MacDailyNews Take: As Henry Ford said: The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.
Apple currently plans to develop a vehicle that lets drivers conduct other tasks — say, watch a movie or play a game — on a freeway and be alerted with ample time to switch over to manual control if they reach city streets or encounter inclement weather. The company has discussed launching the feature in North America initially and then improving and expanding it over time…
The heart of Apple’s technology is a powerful onboard computer system — codenamed Denali after the tallest mountain peak in North America — and a custom array of sensors. The processor’s performance is equal to about four of Apple’s highest-end Mac chips combined and is being developed by the company’s silicon engineering group. The chip has reached an advanced state and is considered nearly production-ready, though Apple may scale it down before the car’s launch to lower costs…
Apple had expected each car to sell for more than $120,000, but the company is now aiming to offer the vehicle to consumers for less than $100,000, according to the people.
MacDailyNews Take: If Apple can hit the sub-$100,000 mark, they’ll have a huge winner on their hands, even if a good old human has to drive it most times.
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Bloomberg has such an amazing track record, this just has to be true.
It would help for Apple stocks has been lagging for a little while. I am Apple fans. I like Apple products, but at the moment, I am happy with my Testla.
If true, I am much happier with this story. It is great for them to swing for the fences but I much appreciate them launching on firm ground. 2026 would be just about the time we will be looking for a new car. I wonder if it will have a place to set your iPhone?
I tend to agree with you I am sure they were indeed investigation the concept of fully autonomous but I very much doubt that it has been seriously on the cards for years it’s obvious to anyone with half a brain it simply isn’t practical if ever before the thirties assuming considerable advances are made in the meantime. It’s like the cd announced as perfect on launch yet has been made more ‘perfect’ ever since and still isn’t.
Remember the claims that we would have autonomous cars by 2020 by some ‘experts’ but what we had was nothing like what anyone expected they were talking about, like cds it’s all a pr campaign rather than a reality. So there is no way for years that Apple seriously thought a car with no steering wheel was remotely feasible by 2026, a time period though they have to meet I fee, if they are going to get into this electric semi autonomous market to make an impact at all and start to make money foreseeably thereafter. Considerably tougher by the year thereafter.
It’s probably why there has been such reported turmoil as, since at least 2018 and likely earlier they were probably mostly squabbling over what exactly in light of that fact of the unachievable original aim, this car would now actually be. And of course what compelling market distinguisher they could instil in it as opposed to the opposition and whether such ‘uniqueness’ is going to be enough to make it all worthwhile. It’s certainly not a given but they don’t want to miss out despite arch rival Google hardly leading the rush any more and beyond Tesla much of the hype beginning to be generated around traditional manufacturers.
DOA
I suppose that is worth parroting because even the traditional broken watch eventually gets the time right… if not by any semblance of actual pre-ordained intelligence.
I’m optimistic. But, to be a hit, this car will have to something or be something significantly better or different than what’s on the market today. Not just integrate with my iPhone and HomeKit.
I imagine an app on the iPhone that allows the user to customize settings for everything – air, sound, lighting, seats, mirrors, massage, etc. and that setting can be utilized by any Apple Car the iPhone syncs with. In essence, the settings are with you on the phone, not saved in the car itself. The voice recognition system would just work. And, I imagine Apple has a fully integrated touch screen dashboard, not just a built-in iPad like a Tesla – taking CarPlay to the next level. The car instantly creates a WiFi hotspot from the iPhone and communicates back to the house via HomeKit.
Apple has charging locations scattered around the country via its Apple Stores.
Now, all that sounds great. But, if it’s a crappy design or has crappy performance… it’s not really worth it.
Hit sub $50,000…then you have a real winner.
No steering wheel or pedals is the dumbest idea ever. People WILL NOT BUY THAT!
No steering wheel or pedals…like a casket for the “next realm.”
Haha, Dirk Knapp. Funny all around.
My needs are simple. If the car can levitate noiselessly using an antigravity field that won’t toss nearby objects, people and pets into the air, I’ll be happy.
It will have to cut the cost to below $50,000 to have a winner. The world is entering a Great Depression due to the economic policies of zero interest money and spending trillions to buy votes and to pay for pandemics and to end our energy industry. A car is not even a good idea when the current global energy plan is to end all electric use and to force animals to stop farting. What happens when they discover Democrats fart?
Oh yeah, and nobody with a brain wants an electric car.
Will the Apple car be able to dispense tomato sauce on your food and brush your teeth? If not then it will be a overpriced POS. Hmmm now this seems familiar like other products that Apple has done 😆
Apple products are loved world-wide, not merely tolerated as utilitarian objects, so I know that the Apple branded car will succeed.