Apple's Tim Cook, Jony Ive among most influential people in automotive tech

Posted:
in General Discussion edited May 2016
Apple currently markets a single automotive product -- CarPlay infotainment software -- but rumors of a branded electric car put company executives Tim Cook and Jony Ive on a top 10 list ranking the most influential figures in automotive technology.




The nod comes courtesy Time's online automotive property The Drive, which on Monday published the first segment of "The Drive 50," a new franchise ranking the 50 most influential people in the motoring world. Cook and Ive were included in today's batch of influencers focusing on automotive technology, encompassing innovations in software, computer hardware and traditional mechanics.

Apple is the only company to be represented twice, with Ive taking the No. 6 slot and Cook placing all the way in third. The publication is hazy on its grading methodology (Ive's design language apparently jibes with the "best car interiors") but cites CarPlay and "Apple Watch-based apps" as grounds for inclusion. As can be expected, the veritable vortex of rumors surrounding Apple's "Project Titan" automotive initiative also played a role.

The duo is joined by other tech industry notables including CEO of Google Self-Driving Cars John Krafcik, who placed first on The Drive's list just ahead of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Uri Levine, founder of mapping app Waze also placed, as did video game designers Kazunori Yamauchi, best known for his work on "Gran Turismo" series, and Dan Greenawalt, creative director at "Forza" developer Turn 10 Studios.

Whispers hinting at work on an electric -- potentially autonomous -- "Apple Car" gathered steam last year on reports of poaching operations aimed at industry leader Tesla. Weeks later, AppleInsider uncovered a secret car lab dubbed "SG5" located in a nondescript Sunnyvale, Calif., facility, just minutes away from Apple's Cupertino headquarters.

Most recently, a report last week claimed Apple is on the hunt for prime Silicon Valley real estate to build out its automotive initiative, suggesting Project Titan is motoring along.

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 27
    rogifan_newrogifan_new Posts: 4,297member
    How is this possible? Other than Time looking for page views.
    SpamSandwichjbdragon
  • Reply 2 of 27
    tnet-primarytnet-primary Posts: 241member
    A ranking based on rumors?   Wow.  Time Magazine.  
    saltyzipjbdragon
  • Reply 3 of 27
    techprod1gytechprod1gy Posts: 838member
    And they said Steve Jobs had a reality distortion field...hmmmm.
    jbdragon
  • Reply 4 of 27
    techprod1gytechprod1gy Posts: 838member
    In all fairness they are probably going on Apple's history of disruption.  I do believe that Automakers are nervous as all get out right now.
    calibaconstang
  • Reply 5 of 27
    Rayz2016Rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member
    I was going to say you have to in a market to influence it, then I remembered how the landscape of wearables changed on the rumour that Apple was about to enter it. 
  • Reply 6 of 27
    saltyzipsaltyzip Posts: 193member
    Don't understand why Apple peeps are even on this list
  • Reply 7 of 27
    wovelwovel Posts: 956member
    Please stop using that ugly concept car picture for anything. 

    Thanks,

    People of Earth
    slprescottanantksundarampscooter63jbdragon
  • Reply 8 of 27
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    Time is a rag.
    anantksundaram
  • Reply 9 of 27
    k2directork2director Posts: 194member
    This reminds me of those Scandinavian simpletons who thought it was a good idea to give Obama the Nobel Peace Prize, before he had ever done anything for peace (and of course, the world has become a lot more violent and chaotic during his watch...oh the irony). 

    I don't blame Cook or Ives for this, it's just yet another example of society's supposed elites (journalists, politicians, academics, etc.) being utterly clueless.... 


    anantksundaramsaltyzipjbdragon
  • Reply 10 of 27
    Cobra101Cobra101 Posts: 22member
    You got to be kidding me.


    Apple has not even confirmed a car and now Cook is the automotive genius of the entire planet.


    LOL
    anantksundaramcnocbui
  • Reply 11 of 27
    brucemcbrucemc Posts: 1,541member
    A ranking based on rumors?   Wow.  Time Magazine.  
    This is what happens when a once great brand (Time) starts chasing "all the latest buzz & what's cool"...
  • Reply 12 of 27
    Cobra101Cobra101 Posts: 22member
    And Jony Ive is great but what automotive design school did he attend?
  • Reply 13 of 27
    calicali Posts: 3,494member
    A Goog guy is number 1?

    not sure how that's any better than Tim and Ivy bring on the list.
    baconstang
  • Reply 14 of 27
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    brucemc said:
    A ranking based on rumors?   Wow.  Time Magazine.  
    This is what happens when a once great brand (Time) starts chasing "all the latest buzz & what's cool"...
    "News" is now BuzzFeed and TMZ. People want crap, they get crap.
    anantksundaram
  • Reply 15 of 27
    ac1234ac1234 Posts: 138member
    Pure, unadulterated crap / rubbish.  The more Cook blows smoke and the media hacks inhale it the more apparent it becomes why AAPL is in trouble.  All smoke & hype.
  • Reply 16 of 27
    kevin keekevin kee Posts: 1,289member
    Never mind Cook and Ive in the list, but why Google is there and even make it on top spot? Where is Google Car that I can buy and drive right now?
  • Reply 17 of 27
    nolamacguynolamacguy Posts: 4,758member
    ac1234 said:
    Pure, unadulterated crap / rubbish.  The more Cook blows smoke and the media hacks inhale it the more apparent it becomes why AAPL is in trouble.  All smoke & hype.
    Apple is working on a car. that doesn't mean we'll see it, but Gruber said he knows for a fact they are. 

    it has nothing to do with Apple being in trouble. that's because they're NOT in trouble. they made insane profit last quarter. they make insane profit every quarter. it's fucking insane that people like you are spinning such nonsense as fact. 
    edited May 2016 pscooter63roundaboutnow
  • Reply 18 of 27
    rfrmacrfrmac Posts: 89member
    If these two made the list at all it must have been 49 and 50.  One car product, and that's all it takes now days to make the list?   And let's not go with the Apple car.  Once it's out or whatever all these people are working on is out, then let's consider the list again.
  • Reply 19 of 27
    foggyhillfoggyhill Posts: 4,767member
    ac1234 said:
    Pure, unadulterated crap / rubbish.  The more Cook blows smoke and the media hacks inhale it the more apparent it becomes why AAPL is in trouble.  All smoke & hype.
    Apple is working on a car. that doesn't mean we'll see it, but Gruber said he knows for a fact they are. 

    it has nothing to do with Apple being in trouble. that's because they're NOT in trouble. they made insane profit last quarter. they make insane profit every quarter. it's fucking insane that people like you are spinning such nonsense as fact. 
    In the big revenue/profit generating industry that exist, cars are one of those that makes the most sense for Apple to get into.


    They're not getting into Plane building, heavy industrial equipment, civil engineering, energy extraction and transformation, mining, petrochemicals, etc.

    Others that would be in their wheelhouse:
    business IT and services (they're going at this through IBM and BYI smart phones)
    Personal medical equipment (watch is just the start)
    Further expansion into wearables/fashion and home automation.
    Various expansion in augmented and virtual reality.
    Expansion in media distribution and production.

  • Reply 20 of 27
    woodbinewoodbine Posts: 87member
    Please Apple, don't waste your energy on an EV for the wealthy, make a car that will solve city car congestion and make it affordable for the rest of us.
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