It’s believed that Apple hopes to apply its expertise developed creating products such as iPhones – in fields including batteries, sensors and hardware/software integraton – to the automotive industry.
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While Apple is rumored to be interested in making computerized cars that can drive themselves, the first version will require motorists to be in control, the Journal reported.
Additional focus being put toward this idea shows Apple’s belief that it has an opportunity to become a factor in the auto industry.
Most automakers have their own factories but it is not clear whether Apple will follow suit since it has not followed this strategy with the iPhone or iPad.
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The Cupertino firm’s electric vehicle purportedly has a target ship date of 2019. Building a vehicle is a complex endeavor, even more so for a company without any experience. It also could mean that’s when engineers would sign off on the car’s main features, the newspaper said. According to reports, Apple intends to triple the number of people involved in the project to accelerate the timetable. People familiar with the project said there is skepticism within the team that the 2019 target is achievable. The Nissan Leaf is the next highest selling electric vehicle in the U.S.as of August. Apple has also hired former Ford designer Marc Newson. However, the sources of today’s report say that some Titan team members are skeptical that Apple will meet its goal. Apple has tapped long-time employee DJ Novotney as VP of program management for project. He didn’t respond to a request for comment. Although semi-autonomous tech is already available in cars like the 2016 Honda Civic, the first fully autonomous consumer auto is still at least six years away with the debut of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Traditionally, the company contracts the manufacturing of its devices to other companies.
