A new leak suggests the secretive Apple car project has shifted focus to fully-autonomous vehicles that don't need a driver, pedals or even a steering wheel. Rumors of Apple's interest in rethinking the automobile began many years ago but each new leak faded out of awareness soon after. There is something different this time considering Apple's Kevin Lynch, who was in charge of the Apple Watch and health projects, has reportedly been moved to Apple's vehicle project.
Apple's car, if it ever arrives, will be electric and feature many of the same benefits that Tesla owners enjoy, with over-the-air updates, automated systems, and remote management. Previous estimates of when Apple's EV might launch placed it five-to-seven years in the future, somewhat equivalent to 'someday.' This is not to say Apple doesn't plan far into the future, but anyone shopping for a car will not wait that long and the EV market is getting a bit more crowded with Rivian and Lucid starting deliveries. Not to mention, nearly every existing automaker has or will soon launch an EV.
The latest leak suggests the timeline for Apple's car has been shortened, which is very good news for the long-toothed project. According to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple could launch an electric vehicle as early as 2025. Something unique about the supposed plan is to forego manual controls such as pedals and steering wheel by leaving the driving to the car's computer. Apple does have a small fleet of Lexus vehicles guided by Apple's self-driving software and is registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, so Apple's research is definitely real.
How Real Is The Apple Car?
Apple is clearly investing plenty of time and resources into work on a self-driving electric car. However, the company can afford to explore an idea for many years only to delay or abandon it if the product isn't ready or the market conditions aren't right. So far, delays have pushed this project nearly to the point of irrelevance. That's also why the leak that points to a fully-autonomous car with no steering wheel or pedals makes sense. If Apple were to launch a Tesla-like car in 2025, there has to be some reason for customers to choose it over the established leader.
Bloomberg's report mentions recent Apple job listings and various sources to lend credence. Most important of all, will be whether Apple can advance the work quickly enough for it to matter. While Tesla and most other EV manufacturers are attempting to enable self-driving that doesn't need a driver at all, none have actually gotten close. If Apple can pull it off, that would make it worthwhile. A 2025 Apple car with no driver controls would be the ultimate luxury ride, loaded with Apple tech to make the drudgery of rush hour traffic disappear, allowing work or play without road distractions, and arriving at the destination refreshed and ready to get on with the day.
Source: Bloomberg