Apple Inc., manufacturer for the ever so popular iMac, Macbook Pros, iPods and iPads, have been rumored to be developing a new smart car, codenamed Project Titan. Since February of last year, various reports have been leaked about the iCar and fans have been speculating for a while now.
These reports vary from Apple hiring Blackberry QNX engineers and possible talks of acquiring supercar maker McLaren. Apple also has allegedly laid off dozens of employees working on the project due to change of plans in the development of the vehicle.
As promising as can be, Apple may be in for a lot of challenges as they enter the business of automotive manufacturing. As they venture out to this new line, they will be competing with companies like Tesla, which has been developing green cars for already more than a decade.
Tesla Motors
While still young in autonomous car technology, the firm has already announced the release of the Model 3, which can be a big challenge for Apple. Rumors suggest that the iCar will be completed on 2019 and will be due for release by 2021, which may be too late for Apple as other manufacturers will have finished and may already be successful with their smart cars by this time. Unless Apple comes up with an innovation that Tesla and other manufacturers have not come up with yet, they may fail in this concept.
Technology
This can also be a reason for Apple to fail. As they are still conducting alleged research and development for their first vehicle, current autonomous car developers are already using new advancements. NVidia, top processor and GPU producer, already have talks of having tie-ups with Tesla, a move by both companies that can make their lead even further in smart car technology.
Corning, the manufacturer of the Gorilla Glass, is contributing in smart car production as well. They are integrating their technology and will be providing the Gorilla glass for smart car windshields. The question here is if companies like Nvidia and Corning will be exclusive to other manufacturers. If they do become exclusive, then Apple really need to step up their game or look for other companies to tie up with. A retina display as a windshield, perhaps?
Price
Apple, known for its ever-reliable Mac computers and iPhones, are also known for their high-value price tags. Apple products have never been cheap, and this can be a burden for consumers who might consider the iCar upon its release. Current smart car manufacturers are tying up with other companies to maximize efficiency and lower manufacturing cost; Rumors of a tie-up with McLaren, a luxury car manufacturer, may give an impression of a high-costing car.
Consumers and Apple fans are still waiting for an official announcement whether the rumors are true or not. However, with the history of Apple, most rumors tend to become real. Such as the rumored Touch ID that was introduced in the iPhone 5s, or even the Touch Bar of the recently announced MacBook Pro. Apple, although one of the best in technological advancements and many firsts, may need to prepare for the worst before they introduce their Apple iCar of the future.
