Apple Car is undoubtedly the most anticipated product for many Apple users, foreign technology media Howtoisolve in the latest blog post summarizes the available information about Apple Car and provides some insider information.
Delays are exaggerated
The Apple Car is codenamed “Project Titan” within Apple, a code name that also indicates that it is Apple’s biggest project to date.
Apple has hired more than 1,000 engineers to ensure that the project will succeed. Unfortunately, there have been a number of setbacks along the way, including the fact that several of the project’s leaders have left the company, which has undoubtedly caused some delays. Even so, the media’s portrayal of the delays has been exaggerated.
Production methods
Previously several media outlets reported that Apple had signed deals with automakers like Hyundai and BMW, but Howtoisolve says Apple will take a different tack and lean on other companies like Foxconn. Apple doesn’t intend to let other companies mass produce the Apple Car.
True, Apple has partnered with Lexus to produce some custom cars with LiDAR sensors, which Apple is using to test the sensors and collect data for California’s Project Titan. However, that doesn’t mean the company will rely on Lexus to build Apple cars.
Apple has no reputation as an automaker, so the company thought it should wait until it could compete with a brand like Tesla. If Apple focuses on markets where Tesla does not have a strong presence, it can work to build its reputation as a reliable automaker before trying to compete with Tesla on price.
Asking price
The Apple Car is not going to be cheap. The Apple Car is likely to be priced around $90,000 (about 609,000 RMB). As I mentioned earlier, this information is not final and many things are still subject to change during the development process, but it’s clear that the Apple Car will not be priced cheaply.
Possibly without traditional car keys
Apple may let the iPhone act as a car key, and may not even offer a traditional car key, instead requiring Apple users to use an Apple CarKey to access the car. There’s just no more news on that at the moment.
Time-to-market
Apple intends to begin mass production of Apple cars in 2025. That doesn’t necessarily mean the car will be available in 2025, because the process of building a car takes a lot longer than building an iPhone or Apple Watch. Apple will wait until 2026 to release it, which means users may have to wait until 2026, or maybe even 2027, to buy it.
It will transition to full autopilot
Apple’s goal is to develop cars with fully autonomous driving. Some sources say that Apple intends to include a large number of titanium components in the Apple car.
