Neither do I and I never did. Apple currently operates in very high margin businesses. Although luxury cars have higher margins than "ordinary" cars, the auto business is extremely low margin and has very high capital costs (although high cash flow). Also, although Apple can "Think Different", traditionally, car companies have owned their factories, which Apple doesn't currently do.
Although Apple has traditionally looked at existing products, figured out what was wrong with them and greatly improved upon them, you have to wonder whether they're really going to try and compete against Tesla, which is way ahead of them (and still not making any money). What do they think they can accomplish that Tesla isn't accomplishing? Does Apple have some miracle way of producing such a car that ordinary people can afford?
Apple trying to take over the dashboard? Sure. Apple building self-driving systems for cars? Maybe. Apple building their own car? I still don't think so.
If Apple was looking 10-20 years out, it would make far more sense for them to be getting involved in AI and Robotics. I've always felt that Siri was the very first zygote step in developing an intelligent robot. Although Robotics is probably also going to be a very low margin, high capital cost business.
Any company with plans for artificial intelligence and robotics would have to be involved now. Highly specialized artificial intelligence systems from IBM will soon be available for doctors to help diagnose patients and I think within 10-15 years most diagnostics will be performed by AI, leaving far more delicate work to specialists (but even they will eventually be replaced completely). Autonomous general purpose robots are progressing more slowly, but maybe in 20-25 years a robot will be available that could replace almost any worker on an assembly line or as a nursing home assistant.
Apple's first step is making better (more accurate) maps. Second step is making the self-driving car. Third step is the self-flying car. Then we see the world's first trillion dollar company.
If Apple is working on a car for sure it will be an electric vehicle. And they don't have to manufacture it they can contract that out. Just like they don't own manufacturing plants for any of their other products.
Contracting out the assembly of an Apple car does lower the difficulty threshold somewhat, true. But Apple would still have to design the entire car, which probably takes them quite far outside of their current expertise.
I'm not saying Apple never would make a car, but it just seems unlikely at this time given the way they've historically moved into new industries.
Min 5+ years of experience in Technical Procurement (high value Capital Equipment) and Project/Program Management in a fast-paced, innovative environment. Previous experience in Automotive/Robotics/Aeronautic Industry is highly desirable. Knowledge of and experience with global supplier development & management, cost management, quality management Strong negotiation skills Strong analytical capability Ability to make quick decisions in challenging environment Proven track record of meeting challenging organisational objectives Excellent communication skills, ability to work in multinational environments, driven and motivated by accomplishing world-class objectives Must have exceptional ability to maintain and develop cross-functional relationships within Apple as well as suppliers’ teams and management Excellent presentation skills to senior management. Flexibility to travel on a regular basis Supply chain experience/background highly desirable Project management experience essential
Also court documents from the A123 settlement indicate Apple is putting together a large scale battery development division. We may never get an actual car from Apple but I have zero doubts they're working on one.
Contracting out the assembly of an Apple car does lower the difficulty threshold somewhat, true. But Apple would still have to design the entire car, which probably takes them quite far outside of their current expertise.
I'm not saying Apple never would make a car, but it just seems unlikely at this time given the way they've historically moved into new industries.
Some of the engineers allegedly working on this project do have previous experience in the automobile industry. In a couple of Apple's industrial designers were involved in automobile design in previous jobs. The rumors back in February were that Apple's industrial design team was meeting with and trying to poach executives from auto companies. Again who knows if we'll ever actually see a car from Apple but there's too much smoke for there not to be any fire. I do think they are working on something and that something is much more than existing auto manufacturers dashboards. Again we saw what happened with the Motorola ROKR. Apple is not very good at being a piece of technology in somebody else's product.
A squinty eyed interface with a kindergarten look which is unusable for anyone with less than near perfect eyesight and a "spaceship" campus that's seriously over budget with a lead contractor shown the door. Add to that increasingly thin (why?) and expensive computers with soldered in non-replaceable components.
Now apparently we have a project in an entirely new field which we are told is dragging people away from their core competencies in the computing field at a time when 'it just works' and usability are becoming distant memories.
I'm beginning to wonder if all of this marks the point at which hubris started seriously to take hold at Apple and in about 10/20 years time will be seen as the point at which it all started to go wrong. IMHO of course.....
Comments
Any company with plans for artificial intelligence and robotics would have to be involved now. Highly specialized artificial intelligence systems from IBM will soon be available for doctors to help diagnose patients and I think within 10-15 years most diagnostics will be performed by AI, leaving far more delicate work to specialists (but even they will eventually be replaced completely). Autonomous general purpose robots are progressing more slowly, but maybe in 20-25 years a robot will be available that could replace almost any worker on an assembly line or as a nursing home assistant.
Apple's first step is making better (more accurate) maps. Second step is making the self-driving car. Third step is the self-flying car. Then we see the world's first trillion dollar company.
If Apple is working on a car for sure it will be an electric vehicle. And they don't have to manufacture it they can contract that out. Just like they don't own manufacturing plants for any of their other products.
Contracting out the assembly of an Apple car does lower the difficulty threshold somewhat, true. But Apple would still have to design the entire car, which probably takes them quite far outside of their current expertise.
I'm not saying Apple never would make a car, but it just seems unlikely at this time given the way they've historically moved into new industries.
https://jobs.apple.com/ie/search?#&ss=39439217&t=0&so=&lo=0*IRL&pN=0&openJobId=39439217
Here are the job qualification requirements:
Key Qualifications
Min 5+ years of experience in Technical Procurement (high value Capital Equipment) and Project/Program Management in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
Previous experience in Automotive/Robotics/Aeronautic Industry is highly desirable.
Knowledge of and experience with global supplier development & management, cost management, quality management
Strong negotiation skills
Strong analytical capability
Ability to make quick decisions in challenging environment
Proven track record of meeting challenging organisational objectives
Excellent communication skills, ability to work in multinational environments, driven and motivated by accomplishing world-class objectives
Must have exceptional ability to maintain and develop cross-functional relationships within Apple as well as suppliers’ teams and management
Excellent presentation skills to senior management.
Flexibility to travel on a regular basis
Supply chain experience/background highly desirable
Project management experience essential
Also court documents from the A123 settlement indicate Apple is putting together a large scale battery development division. We may never get an actual car from Apple but I have zero doubts they're working on one.
http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-court-document-from-a123-v-apple-that-shows-apple-is-building-a-car-battery-2015-5
Some of the engineers allegedly working on this project do have previous experience in the automobile industry. In a couple of Apple's industrial designers were involved in automobile design in previous jobs. The rumors back in February were that Apple's industrial design team was meeting with and trying to poach executives from auto companies. Again who knows if we'll ever actually see a car from Apple but there's too much smoke for there not to be any fire. I do think they are working on something and that something is much more than existing auto manufacturers dashboards. Again we saw what happened with the Motorola ROKR. Apple is not very good at being a piece of technology in somebody else's product.
Hmm.
A squinty eyed interface with a kindergarten look which is unusable for anyone with less than near perfect eyesight and a "spaceship" campus that's seriously over budget with a lead contractor shown the door. Add to that increasingly thin (why?) and expensive computers with soldered in non-replaceable components.
Now apparently we have a project in an entirely new field which we are told is dragging people away from their core competencies in the computing field at a time when 'it just works' and usability are becoming distant memories.
I'm beginning to wonder if all of this marks the point at which hubris started seriously to take hold at Apple and in about 10/20 years time will be seen as the point at which it all started to go wrong. IMHO of course.....