Elon Musk expects 'Apple Car' to be late to market, estimates volume production by 2020
Speaking at Re/code's Code Conference, Tesla founder Elon Musk restated assumptions that Apple -- not Google -- will one day be an automotive industry contender, but said the mythical project is already a "missed opportunity."
Musk was interviewed by Re/code's Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher, who went down the inevitable "Apple Car" rabbit hole about halfway through Wednesday's onstage appearance.
When asked about potential competition in the self-driving car space, Musk, as usual, voiced his support for Apple's as-yet-unannounced efforts. But he couldn't resist the opportunity to put in a small jab.
"I think it's great they're doing this, and I hope it works out," he said. "It's just a missed opportunity. It's a couple years...they'll make a good car and be successful."
In Musk's estimation, Apple should have committed to its electric vehicle project sooner, adding that "Apple Car" production is unlikely to start before 2020. The guess lines up with rumors last year which claimed Apple's car would enter manufacturing by 2020, an aggressive timeline for a company taking its first crack at a notoriously cutthroat heavy industry.
While Musk anticipates a so-called "Apple Car," he doesn't see the same for Google. Through its X Labs, Google has already logged more than 1.5 million miles on its self-driving car platform, though industry watchers believe the internet search giant plans to license any technology gleaned from the project to a major automotive manufacturer. Musk agrees.
Apple is widely speculated to be developing an electric, potentially self-driving, car under the auspices of a secret project codenamed Titan. AppleInsider first uncovered evidence of Apple's automotive facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif., last year. Since then, the company has reportedly expanded the operation to include hundreds of engineers, software developers and industry experts.
Musk was interviewed by Re/code's Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher, who went down the inevitable "Apple Car" rabbit hole about halfway through Wednesday's onstage appearance.
When asked about potential competition in the self-driving car space, Musk, as usual, voiced his support for Apple's as-yet-unannounced efforts. But he couldn't resist the opportunity to put in a small jab.
"I think it's great they're doing this, and I hope it works out," he said. "It's just a missed opportunity. It's a couple years...they'll make a good car and be successful."
In Musk's estimation, Apple should have committed to its electric vehicle project sooner, adding that "Apple Car" production is unlikely to start before 2020. The guess lines up with rumors last year which claimed Apple's car would enter manufacturing by 2020, an aggressive timeline for a company taking its first crack at a notoriously cutthroat heavy industry.
While Musk anticipates a so-called "Apple Car," he doesn't see the same for Google. Through its X Labs, Google has already logged more than 1.5 million miles on its self-driving car platform, though industry watchers believe the internet search giant plans to license any technology gleaned from the project to a major automotive manufacturer. Musk agrees.
Apple is widely speculated to be developing an electric, potentially self-driving, car under the auspices of a secret project codenamed Titan. AppleInsider first uncovered evidence of Apple's automotive facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif., last year. Since then, the company has reportedly expanded the operation to include hundreds of engineers, software developers and industry experts.
Comments
Apple was also "late to the market" in the phone and tablet game and looked how that turned out.
Apple has higher quality standards than Tesla.
Apple's car wouldn't have all the flaws that Tesla has. The flaws are so numerous, Consumer Reports was forced to place Tesla on its not-recommended list.
Musk's Apple remarks show his sour grapes attitude.
Tesla has had a tremendous head start, has a lot of credibility in the market and has a CEO who has very strong product and strategic instincts, which is not something you can seriously say for Tim Cook.
That Musk has good instincts and has the organizational power to make big, bold bets makes him able to move Tesla quickly in important directions (like Jobs could). Tim Cook has the organizational power but not the instincts, and that will slow Apple down, and be a burden against Tesla.
Wow. A whole mile and a half.
Zero demand? They don't exist yet. Think an app and service whereby you could arrive at an airport in a foreign land and a car is waiting especially for you can you get in and without pause it takes you to your hotel and doesn't rip you off. Then, optionally, after differ you call a car and it takes you around this unfamiliar city and gives you an audible tour with monuments and POI appearing on the giant display in front of you. It could even send to your phone a list of places and things to do it feels you may be interested in the following day. You could wake up the next day and if you need a car it'd be waiting for you and if you don't it could provide you with walking directions right on your phone and other relevant information.
All without ever needimg to rely on a human. You probably save costs and had an improved experience.
So 53% of first movers don't fail? That's above half. Phones and tablets sucked before iPhone and iPad. Tesla cars don't suck. I think there's room for many players in the car space. Be thankful for the competition. One obvious area to me where Apple can improve upon Tesla is integration with an existing ecosystem and design. Tesla is not bad at design, but they are nowhere near Apple in that dept.