Sorry Apple fanboys but it looks like you won't be getting the Apple car of your dreams anytime soon!
A Bloomberg report today says Apple has halted its plans for a self-driving car amid management turmoil. The company appears to have fielded hundreds of backers for the new car in recent months, and executives have set a deadline of “late next year” to prove the system is feasible.
Apple is not the first company to realize that mobile devices and software updates are no guarantee of a self-driving car and therefore the success of the auto industry. Alphabet Inc.'s Google has already learned the challenges of building such vehicles and has sought partners. Tech investors have plenty of doubts, too.
Another alternative the company is considering is to develop the technology to help other cars become autonomous through a “self-driving” platform. This is surprising as it’s hard to imagine Apple essentially relegating itself to an accessory designer, but perhaps the company believes it’s better to have some real-world experience and then build its own product to market.
“There’s a healthy margin for a quality Apple-branded car,” said Eric Paul Dennis, an analyst at the Center for Automotive Research. “They’re probably not willing to compromise on quality” because that could hurt their other products, he added.
One thing is for sure: don't hold your breath until the Apple car is built!!
