14 DAY TRIAL // There is little doubt at this point that Apple is interested in cars. More and more people who claim to be familiar with the company’s plans are stepping up to provide information as to what this project is all about.
A well-connected source in the auto industry tells Reuters that Apple, a pioneer in many fields, “is [now] exploring how to make an entire vehicle, not just designing automotive software or individual components.”
They’re going at it alone
Instead of partnering up with actual carmakers, Apple is diligently gathering talent in key areas involving smart cars, focusing on connected-car technologies, EVs, and automated driving, the source said on Saturday.
Apple is said to be very interested in all the ways you can evolve a car, including driverless tech: mapping, car-sharing and car recharging services. “It's a software game. It's all about autonomous driving,” the source said.
Apple is recruiting industry experts in areas like robotics as well, according to two different sources.
Giving Tesla “a run for its money”
The first iCar rumors broke out when another industry source decided to share with the media a very interesting tidbit regarding staff poaching between Apple and Tesla.
Tesla knows that software prowess is important in the EV game, while Apple has a lot of that. What Apple doesn’t have is car engineering talent, and it is reportedly looking at Tesla for that. Amid these rumors, one person said Apple was working on a project that was about to “give Tesla a run for its money.”
Later, a report came out saying that Apple had been working on this project for at least a year, and that the company had set up a research center solely dedicated to this initiative. The iPhone maker recently hired someone from Mercedes-Benz to join the party, and a former Ford employee is also known to be on the Apple Car team.