Apple says bye bye to its long-rumored electric vehicle program and decides to concentrate it research and development millions on products to keep ahead of Samsung and Lenovo. Still, it is rumored that Apple will continue to focus its efforts on developing an autonomous driving system.
Apple started designing its own driverless electric vehicle back in 2014 and the company embarked on an “aggressive hiring spree” to meet its purported 2020 launch goal.
One of the many reasons for this move is that Apple has struggled with automotive supply chains. Former GM and BMW exec Bob Lutz was one of the more outspoken Apple Car sceptics, and was quoted in February last year as saying:
“When it comes to actually making cars, there is no reason to assume that Apple, with no experience, will suddenly do a better job than General Motors, Ford, Volkswagen, Toyota, or Hyundai. So I think this is going to be a gigantic money pit, but then it doesn’t matter. I mean Apple has an embarrassment of riches, they don’t know where to put the cash anymore. So if they burn 30 or 40 billion dollars in the car business, no one’s going to notice.”
Well, things could change again in the coming 12 months as this rumor could well be a smoke screen to divert attention until Apple rocks the market with its own Tesla competing car. Watch this space, an Apple car could be appearing here.
