The company must think it’s worth exploring some more, because according to The Wall Street Journal, project leaders are now tripling Apple Car’s 600-person team.
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Some sources within Apple expressed doubt as to whether the project team can meet its 2019 deadline, as this is Apple’s first vehicle and it’s not uncommon for complex projects to miss their ship dates.
The latest WSJ article was written hot of the tails of another report from The Guardian’s Mark Harris, which revealed that Apple execs presented their plans for an autonomous vehicles to California’s DMV officials.
The move could put Apple into competition with Tesla, Elon Musk’s auto company, and other major auto manufacturers who build electric cars. As Digital Trends reports, Apple has named the endeavor Project Titan and is moving full steam ahead with the plan.
Apple has hired this year Megan McClain, a former Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) engineer with expertise in automated driving, and Vinay Palakkode, a graduate researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, a hub of automated driving research. As electric and driverless vehicles approach, both traditional carmakers and computer manufacturers have both looked to gain a foothold in the new industry.
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, WSJ reported. However, the most well-known electric vehicle company, Tesla Motors, was founded in 2003 and managed to ship a limited number of prototype Roadsters only three years later in 2006.
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Fruity cargo cult Apple is speeding up its efforts to build an electric vehicle, as interest in its overpriced consumer cash cow contemplates a future trip to the meat-works.
