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Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

reuters.com

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Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#21

Post by abhinavsharma »

This is starting to make increasingly more sense even though Apple making a car seemed laughable a few years ago.

Apple is fundamentally now a company that can move immense amounts of capital into new industries with the underlying ethos of user experience. Apple Card was perhaps a dipping of the toes moment.

In theory, Tesla shouldn't be worth what it is because the tech behind it is increasingly getting commoditized (though they work hard to stay slightly ahead). But people love Tesla and it's the first choice EV because they've really thought through the UX of a semi-self driving car EV thoroughly.

Apple is just about the only company with a similar ethos and enough money and patience to be a viable competitor and have a competitive brand known for quality.

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#22

Post by asadlionpk »

friedman23 wrote: post #9
davidrm wrote: post #2

Apple has been in and out of the car game for a few years now, with executives coming and going. What I'm about to say will be as meaningful as this hear-say article, but I feel that Apple management, and its shareholders, have no idea what it means to build a car. Things like this need 100% commitment from the management, Cook just doesn't seem like the guy to do it.

Apple could outright buy GM or Ford with cash.

But those would be terrible car companies to buy imo.

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#23

Post by api »

ProfessorLayton wrote: post #18
modeless wrote: post #6

The Tesla Model 3 already embodies the minimalism, software focus, and vertical integration that have driven Apple's success in the phone market. Right down to the custom SoC and capacitive touchscreen in lieu of buttons. I'm really curious what Apple's differentiators will be. Also, 2024 still seems aggressive to deploy self-driving for real.

>I'm really curious what their differentiators will be Extremely good build quality? Accessories notwithstanding, most of their products look and feel like they were built extremely well. Even their failures like the butterfly keyboard looked and felt like they were built to extremely tight tolerances.

Tolerances and build quality weren't the problem with the butterfly keyboard. It was just a fundamentally flawed design that was not durable enough for real world use.

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#24

Post by ghaff »

davidrm wrote: post #2

Apple has been in and out of the car game for a few years now, with executives coming and going. What I'm about to say will be as meaningful as this hear-say article, but I feel that Apple management, and its shareholders, have no idea what it means to build a car. Things like this need 100% commitment from the management, Cook just doesn't seem like the guy to do it.

It seems like such an utterly different business. It seems as if there are so many more natural extensions in consumer hardware and software tech (as well as many not yet imagined). And I agree with your basic point that this is something that they'd almost have to set up as a separate company. And then you have to ask: "Does a well-funded EV startup sound like a smart business plan?" Maybe it does but it wouldn't be my first choice.

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#25

Post by mandeepj »

the-dude wrote: post #4

Just a reminder, the first computer manufacturer who released an electric vehicle was Sinclar, the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_C5 , in 1985. Now Apple has bitten the ...? I expect MS to follow suit soon.

> I expect MS to follow suit soon

https://www.google.com/search?q=microsoft+self+driving+car&o...

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#26

Post by Veen »

mikece wrote: post #17

"It remains unclear who would assemble an Apple-branded car, but sources have said they expect the company to rely on a manufacturing partner to build vehicles." Does Apple have enough money (cash, line of credit capability) to simply buy an automaker? I can see where it would make the most sense to partner but having an option to buy at a later point could bring advantages to Apple.

> Apple has $191.83 billion in cash, according to its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings

I would say so.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/29/apple-q4-cash-hoard-heres-ho...

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#27

Post by antoniuschan99 »

murat124 wrote: post #11

How would one go from making no cars at all, not even parts, to making them?

The criticism Tesla had initially was that they didn’t outsource their production to companies like Magna, but instead do it in-house.

I think Apple will outsource it, although the article did say talks with Magna fell through.

Dyson seems like it has the know how to do production in-house, but their car project failed.

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#28

Post by kirian »

modzu wrote: post #14
modeless wrote: post #6

The Tesla Model 3 already embodies the minimalism, software focus, and vertical integration that have driven Apple's success in the phone market. Right down to the custom SoC and capacitive touchscreen in lieu of buttons. I'm really curious what Apple's differentiators will be. Also, 2024 still seems aggressive to deploy self-driving for real.

door handles?

it won't have door handles.

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#29

Post by teruakohatu »

mikece wrote: post #17

"It remains unclear who would assemble an Apple-branded car, but sources have said they expect the company to rely on a manufacturing partner to build vehicles." Does Apple have enough money (cash, line of credit capability) to simply buy an automaker? I can see where it would make the most sense to partner but having an option to buy at a later point could bring advantages to Apple.

> Does Apple have enough money (cash, line of credit capability) to simply buy an automaker?

I think the answer is Yes regardless of the industry (or small country).

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