applesauce007

And the hits just keep on coming...
Apple Maps & Carplay totally rock.

I am hearing that Samsung Core phones are also catching fire.
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Samsung-Phone-Lithium-Iron-Blow-Up-Child-Hand-Explosion-Brooklyn-New-York-393131791.html

This is more than a gift to Apple, but I imagine it is Samsung's worst nightmare before the holidays.

seanismorris said:

The self-driving technology is only one piece of the puzzle.  Right now Tesla already has a great car on the road, but their competitive advantage is the giga factory and battery technology.  Also, it could be a decade before self driving cars are legal in many parts of the world.

Apple lacks a competitive advantage...  besides lots and lots of cash.
...

On the contrary, Apple has several competitive advantages.

1.  Apple Maps + Coherent navigation
2.  Apple Beacons
3.  Iris Engine and Iris Photo Engine.
4.  Hollow Core Battery (Orange Power)
5.  CarPlay + SIRI

One reason Apple may not manufacture a car is that autonomous navigations is not restricted to only cars.
Moreover there are all sorts of specialized vehicles in which Apple can contribute such as Medical Ambulances.

Vehicle OS will need to be infinitely scalable to support busses, trucks, trains, airplanes, space shuttles and spaceships etc...

1.  The current roads and traffic control infrastructures will need to be updated to support autonomous vehicles.
2.  Apple beacons will be instrumental in the new traffic infrastructure.
3.  Apple Maps and SIRI will actually be instrumental in Apple vehicles.
4.  Coherent navigation can provide much more accurate GPS.
5.  Iris Engine and Iris Image Engine can use beacons instead of just computer vision.

I think the that when electric cars become main stream, they will quickly become highly commoditized with low margins, like televisions; so I can see why Apple may wish to avoid that particular market.  But Apple can still contribute like they are doing with AppleTV and HomeKit, ResearchKit etc...

Apple's go to market strategy may include an automotive platform including  the software framework and related key components technologies such as coherent navigation technologies and power management technologies.  The same way HomeKit can have all your home appliances collaborating, CarKit and related protocols compliant automobiles will be able to collaborate on the roads for safety and traffic flow advantages.

Apple is already dealing with virtually all auto makers with CarPlay where each auto maker integrate some Apple Technologies in their infotainment systems.  That can eventually be extended to a core framework that allows customization and differentiation while providing vital core technologies for the auto industry.

Note that Apple has already trademarked the term Iris Engine and Iris Picture Engine, these engines could be to recognize live 3D objects like pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles and 2D images such as road signs respectively.  Apple is also working very hard on camera technologies that could compete with MobileEye technologies.

Imagine your car inside your garage first telling your garage door to open up and then telling other protocol compliant cars that it see in the driveway to move so that it can get out.   

Time will tell.