Daimler CEO leaves door open to 'different types' of partnerships with Apple, Google
Daimler is open to "different types" of cooperation with Apple and Google, with the understanding their technology could be essential to future cars, Daimler's CEO said in a magazine interview published on Friday.
"Many things are conceivable," Dieter Zetsche told Deutsche Unternehmerboerse, as quoted by Reuters. The executive observed that Apple and Google want to provide system software for vehicles, and bring their respective ecosystems there.
"That can be interesting for both sides," Zetsche remarked.
One option for Daimler might be a joint venture with tech firms, he added, but with the caution that his comments are "purely theoretical," and that the company won't let itself be reduced to a manufacturer of Apple and Google vehicles.
"We don't want to become contractors who have no direct content with customers any more and supply hardware to third parties," Zetsche concluded.
Apple and Google already have minor footprints in the automotive world in the form of standards like CarPlay and Android Auto, but are believed to have much bigger ambitions. Google has been openly developing a self-driving car platform for years, and Apple appears to be headed in the same direction under its Project Titan effort.
Traditional car companies are also exploring self-driving vehicles, but may need help from tech firms in areas like interfaces, mapping, and artificial intelligence. On the flip side, both Apple and Google have been rumored as wanting to partner with automakers, given their lack of experience with car design and the expense and complexity of manufacturing.
"Many things are conceivable," Dieter Zetsche told Deutsche Unternehmerboerse, as quoted by Reuters. The executive observed that Apple and Google want to provide system software for vehicles, and bring their respective ecosystems there.
"That can be interesting for both sides," Zetsche remarked.
One option for Daimler might be a joint venture with tech firms, he added, but with the caution that his comments are "purely theoretical," and that the company won't let itself be reduced to a manufacturer of Apple and Google vehicles.
"We don't want to become contractors who have no direct content with customers any more and supply hardware to third parties," Zetsche concluded.
Apple and Google already have minor footprints in the automotive world in the form of standards like CarPlay and Android Auto, but are believed to have much bigger ambitions. Google has been openly developing a self-driving car platform for years, and Apple appears to be headed in the same direction under its Project Titan effort.
Traditional car companies are also exploring self-driving vehicles, but may need help from tech firms in areas like interfaces, mapping, and artificial intelligence. On the flip side, both Apple and Google have been rumored as wanting to partner with automakers, given their lack of experience with car design and the expense and complexity of manufacturing.
Comments
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What technology does Giggle have?!?
Makes we wonder why Amazon hasn't entered this market yet. Surely the world needs Amazon Prime integrated into the future of automobiles. Jeff Bezos could hold a press conference announcing FireAuto!
Right, but his cars will fly too.
Oh god, hope this doesn't mean an "Apple Edition" and "Google Edition" Mercedes, like Jeep does with L.L. Bean. I can see it now, silver apple on the steering wheel and Burberry upholstery. Maybe rose gold metal trim?
LoL Don't forget the "Eddie Bauer" Ford Exploder!
EDIT: IMHO you may not really have any interest in an answer but if you do here's a recent article discussing Google's automotive ambitions. Yes, it sounds fairly similar to what Apple is rumoured to be interested in.
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/01/google-auto-car-making-company
I totally expected this when that Concord Naval Weapons base story came out last week because Mercedes and Honda already have licenses to test autonomous cars there. If Apple is jumping in, it might make sense to partner with them, especially since BMW snubbed them.
Here's an article from last year discussing Concord Naval and it's use as a test track.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/contra-costa-times/ci_26644468/concord-mercedes-benz-test-self-driving-cars-at
By the way the actual authority handling the testing facility is GoMentum Station
http://gomentumstation.net/
[@]mstone[/@]Just noticed a similar post you made yesterday. Great minds and all, huh?
The "Android Edition".... Yeah, that's like putting a Wal-Mart badge on your S600.
Apple will use Touch ID on the door handle while Google will have you draw a pattern on the window to gain access¡
Apple will use Touch ID on the door handle while Google will have you draw a pattern on the window to gain access¡
Google will use a 3D printer to make a copy of your thumb so they can enter your car and house at their leisure ;-); just and extension of what they do now...
They'll make you enter by the sun roof because using the doors is just too easy and intuitive :-).
Thank goodness there's no way to capture and display images of people.