Apple moves forward with plans to develop electric cars that are fully autonomous, in accordance with the latest leakage on the company’s long-term automotive projects. Unlike some vehicles that have partial self-driving features, Apple aims to make a car that is able to drive itself without input from a human behind the wheel, the sources accused.
Rumors about Apple’s electric car projects have been circulating for years, narratives that often shift when Apple is suspected of oscillating between various potential plans for EV. The latest claims come from Bloomberg, which quotes “people who are familiar with this problem.” Apple, of course, hasn’t commented on the rumor.
With Kevin Lynch is now responsible for the project, Apple moves forward with a plan to develop a fully autonomous electric car, the source claims. Evolution in the Titan project, Apple’s car’s efforts, will place the company against Tesla, which has its own ambition for full self-driving eV.
Assuming the source is accurate, Apple wants to launch an EV self-driving in four years, which will put it around 2025 launch. However, leakage claims alleged launch dates depend on whether Apple can complete the vehicle with self-driving capabilities. It is not clear whether Apple will turn to EV launches that are partly autonomous or push the launch to the next date if it fails to achieve the alleged goal.
What consumer cars are fully autonomous? The report claims Apple wants to introduce EVs that do not have pedals and steering wheels, opening doors for unique interior designs that can, for example, focus around social settings or provide space to complete work.
Apple allegedly also considered the infotainment system, based on a report, it seems like it will be similar to EV Tesla. Control systems are reported to rotate around the large touch screen that is positioned in the middle of the vehicle, making it accessible to passengers who will have access to Apple services.
Resources continue to claim that Apple may have completed the main aspects of the EV car processor, one of the companies is thought to plan to add vehicles to test. The chip will basically function as a “brain” vehicle to power on many AI features involved in self-driving capabilities.
Beyond it, the leak also claims Apple can include emergency mode that allows the driver to take control of the vehicle if necessary, although it is not clear whether it means adding the steering wheel and pedal to the design or if it will be similar to the emergency shutdown button.
Security, of course, remains a big problem in the push of the automotive industry for fully autonomous abilities. The sources behind the Bloomberg report accused the Apple plan to hire engineers to be assigned to develop the safety features of the Titan Project and test them.
The work pushes towards a potential future where Apple EV will target more than just consumers, the source claims, the steps that will make sense considering the service rises according to the demand and effort that exists from Waymo. Apple has reportedly seen the possibility of launching its electric vehicle fleet to offer public services similar to Uber.
Will it happen – and how long – is another matter. We have heard leaked about Titan projects for years and it is very possible that the company’s plan for the EV once again can shift. Assuming Apple does have an ambition to launch the Self-Driving EV fleet itself, business measures first will ask to bring EV to the market, an ambitious task that might really need a delay outside the expected 2025 launch date.
