Despite setbacks and mishaps, Apple has reportedly been building its own car, dubbed "Project Titan," for years. But now, a new report suggests that moment may have arrived.
Multiple sources told Reuters that Apple could debut a new car in 2024. It will be geared toward individual drivers and feature Apple's innovative battery and autonomous driving technology.
The sources said the pandemic could push the timeline back, so the car could be released in 2025, and there's a chance Apple could license technology to existing automakers rather than build the car itself. At least that's what a company like Tesla, as the hype surrounding an Apple Car would make the launch of the iPhone and iPad seem insignificant by comparison.
The Reuters article came a day after MacRumors began circulating “sketchy reports” about the Apple Car. Those reports claimed that Apple would debut it in the third quarter of 2021. The new 2024 timeline is in line with what Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously reported about a car launching between 2023 and 2025.
In February 2019, Apple confirmed that it had laid off about 200 employees, most of them engineers, from Project Titan. That wasn’t a good sign for the division, but this latest report suggests that Project Titan is still moving forward. However, analysts told Reuters that it’s not unlikely that Apple will build its own car.
The company is reportedly working with other component manufacturers for technology like LIDAR. With these partners, it could have the supply chain to compete with Elon Musk and other electric and autonomous vehicles.
