All sign point to the fact that Apple is work on a car , and over the last year there ’s been plenty of speculation about what that could mean .
During theC3 Connected Mobility Summitin San Francisco , a panel of experts linked all the recent rumors together to prove to trace Apple ’s plan for disrupt the auto industry . This year alone , rumors surrounding the Apple car , codenamed Project Titan , surfaced as follows : orchard apple tree hasfiled permits to work up a “ auto work area”near Cupertino , leased a super - private examination facility , andmet with the California DMV . There ’s even speculation that Apple has creatednot one , buttwo shell companiesto disguise its car - building operations . And then there ’s the coolest rumor of them all : that Apple will bemaking smart windshield .
The rumors — couple on with news show that Apple has charter a bunch of experts in galvanic batteries , A.I. , and automotive — help paint a better picture as to what we can bear to come out of Project Titan . Who knows ? We might even get to see it sooner than 2019 , theyear when the Apple Car is rumored to hit the road .
Short-lived partnerships lead to solo projects
From poaching diligence executives to partnering with other companies , Apple ’s not - so - secret moves closely resemble the ship’s company ’s launching of the iPhone and the Apple Watch , according to the panel moderate by C3 Group CEO Dave Robinson .
“ Apple has a history of partnering with another society in another industry , learning a few lessons , and launching its own Cartesian product , ” suppose panelist John Suh , executive director of Hyundai Ventures . Suh was referring to the short - lived partnership between Apple and Motorola that led to the 2005 Rokr phone with iTunes build in .
Even though the Rokr was a total failure , Suh said that Apple learned a lot about the mobile telephone industry from partnering with Motorola , enough to launch the jaw - dropping iPhone just two years later .
likewise , it ’s been widely reported that Apple and BMW were in talks to collaborate on an galvanising car . Apple CEO Tim Cook toured the BMW headquarters in 2014 ; however , talks of a partnership have taper off and it seems like Apple is doing a railway car solo .
Who they are hiring—and why
The Apple hire spree for Project Titankicked off back in February . Even the other hires suggested back then that Apple was interested in more than just power the CarPlay dashboard software package . Throughout the year , Apple has bring on executive director from Tesla , Chrysler , Nvidia , and ripe battery - maker A123 Systems ( presently process Apple for poach employees ) .
Some of the high - visibility hires , however , are experts in recondite scholarship and artificial intelligence information . What about charter people who know how to make a car accelerate and brake ? The answer may offer another clue into Apple ’s machine scheme , according to Sarah Pilewski , a principal at data platform Quid .
“ It show [ Apple ’s ] precedency , ” Pilewski said during the C3 dialog box . “ Apple is perfecting the car ’s user experience first and the other aspects will come later or be outsource . ”
Similarly , when Apple was rise the Apple Watch , it first hired medical and eternal rest experts and hoi polloi who knew about machine learning and sensor . Of course , putting together a moving vehicle , not even an autonomous one , is more complicated than a carpus accouterment . But based on the hire , it is an interesting notice that Apple is choosing to rivet first on how the iCar will interact with the driver .
Why the Apple Car will be unlike any other
If Project Titan prevails , Apple will be the first computer society to establish a car , and according to the C3 panelist , that will be a major breakthrough .
Even if it ’s not self - driving , the Apple Car will be like no other auto on the securities industry based solely on the fact that it will be another part of Apple ’s expanding ecosystem . According to Suh , the Apple Car will most likely be seamlessly tie in to your iPhone , your Mac , your iPad , and your Apple Watch . Not only that , but it will also be connected to everything store on those gimmick , like your euphony , messages , contacts , and calendars .
“ If Apple decided today to make your iPhone you elevator car key , it could do that very well , ” Suh said . “ No other company in the world could do that . ” He ’s proper : we do n’t see BMW launching a smartphone anytime shortly , or Samsung getting into the auto byplay .
Furthermore , Suh suppose that the Apple Car will combine Cupertino ’s expertness in intention , batteries , tactile interface , sensor technology , mapping , navigation and ironware - software integration .
“ It will be an immersive experience where for the first time the net will move with you , ” he said . “ You will be moving through the Internet as you move through space . ”
finally , Pilewski think that Apple could also cut off the motorcar - purchasing experience . What would an Apple Car dealership look like ? This is specially interesting considering how young people are owning fewer car . Some millennials are prefer out of getting a number one wood ’s licence wholly , according to Pilewski .
“ Will you demand a driver ’s licence to run an autonomous car ? ” necessitate C3 Group CEO Dave Robinson , the panel moderator .
Apple’s advantage as an outsider
Although we ca n’t yet confirm whether the iCar will be galvanizing or autonomous , the panellist claim one matter ’s for sure : Apple has a big vantage enter the auto industriousness as an outsider .
“ The reward of a novel newcomer comes into frolic when you guess about match regulations , minimizing the risk for stakeholders , and satisfying your existing client , ” Pilewski say , talking to the current big cable car companies . “ You are beholden to them , and that slows you down . That environment is not ripe for innovation . ”
Pilewski sound out this was the reason why tech startup have been able to bring home the bacon as new entrants to big established industries .
“ When you think of services like Uber and Airbnb , they ignore rule right off the bat until they are forced to abide by , ” she read . “ The car companies do n’t have that sumptuousness , for good or for unsound . ”
