Posted on 02/14/2015 4:07:50 AM PST by shove_it
The smoke surrounding rumors of an Apple-branded vehicle has begun to thicken, as a new report says that Apple is indeed working on an all-electric vehicle that would take the shape of a minivan, with a huge team tasked to the project.
Apple has given the project codename "Titan," according to the Wall Street Journal. The company is said to have "several hundred" employees working in the group.
Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly green-lighted the project almost a year ago, and company executives have already begun to meet with potential contract manufacturers, including Canadian firm Magna Steyr. Apple iPod and iPhone designer Steve Zadesky, formerly of Ford, is said to be running the project.
The team — which has its own development facility away from the main Infinite Loop campus — could eventually swell to some 1,000 employees, and Zadesky has been given free reign to pull talent from any existing Apple group. Zadesky's group is reportedly researching "robotics, metals and materials consistent with automobile manufacturing."
The Journal's report follows hours after a similar missive from the Financial Times, which revealed a "top-secret research lab" staffed with automotive executives. Among those who have made the move is former Mercedes-Benz R&D head Johann Jungwirth, who joined Apple as a Mac systems engineering leader last fall.
Apple design chief Jony Ive is believed to have been personally recruiting automotive executives. Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed earlier that Apple has tried "very hard" to poach engineers from the electric carmaker, offering $250,000 bonuses and 60 percent pay raises.
Rumors of an Apple-branded vehicle have been around for years, but began to gather steam when Apple was revealed as the company behind a fleet of mysterious sensor-laden vans which have appeared around the U.S. in recent months. Those vans, which are almost certainly designed for data collection to augment Apple's mapping service, are unlikely to be directly related to any potential vehicle project, which is likely years away from production.
I’m no fan of these things but according to one cabbie in NYC, whom I had engaged in a discussion about the pro’s and con’s (lol) of lower gas prices, his hybrid currently required $9/day in fuel vs. $30-something for a straight-up gas job.
I’ll wait until next week when the new models come out, or the week after, or the week after..
I test drove a hybrid Lincoln recently with a 2.0 liter turbocharged gasoline engine with battery backup that got its charge from applying the brakes - no plug-in. It was a dog but for a metro area commuter car, OK I guess tho with some options high $30s MRP.
Another Apple Car article ...
Here’s another article from yesterday ...
Apple hiring automotive experts to work in secret research lab
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3257295/posts
Apple is recruiting experts in automotive technology and vehicle design to work at a new top-secret research lab, said several people familiar with the company, pointing to ambitions that go beyond the dashboard.
Dozens of Apple employees, led by experienced managers from its iPhone unit, are researching automotive products at a confidential Silicon Valley location outside the company’s Cupertino campus, the people said.
Sir Jonathan Ive’s team of Apple designers has held regular meetings with automotive executives and engineers in recent months, in some cases trying to hire them. Recent recruits to Apple’s team include the head of Mercedes-Benz’s Silicon Valley R&D unit.
The Apple research lab was set up late last year, not long after Apple unveiled its forthcoming smart watch and latest iPhones, which suggests that any resulting product may still be years away from release. Apple often investigates a wide range of new product areas, some of which never get released.
I would be excited about this, but Apple has an enormous amount of money overseas, which stays overseas.
They are avoiding American taxation.
So they will when ready, not build the car in America.
I am not excited by this. Until Apple begins to support American workers.
I thought the idea here was to REDUCE TAXATION ... not increase it ... :-) ...
But, in regards to Apple making things here, they do, in addition to employing a humongous number of people right here inside our own borders.
Have you seen the size of that new campus they’re building and how many people are working there ... not to say anything about how many are working right now to build that humongous building!
Did you notice what mileage claims were?
I’m saying Apple needs to hire more Americans.
They become less an American company every year.
Oh, good, here comes Cringing Negativism Network clamoring for higher corporate taxes and more union labor.
I think Democrat Underground would be more your cup of tea.
I do not support either of those things.
I just want Americans to have jobs.
Jobs.
I would say that this project happens to be doing that very thing ... :-) ...
Apple, like Tesla, is a religion. Those who have declared fealty are legion.
We shall see.
Apple is becoming more and more Chinese.
Bring back jobs, to the USA.
You very clearly said that you were in favor of Apple paying more corporate tax. Don’t you understand that companies are mobile, and will inevitably move to lower-tax jurisdictions in order to meet their fiduciary responsibilities to their shareholders?
I think you have never run a business, nor taken an economics class.
It won't be for long spending money on a pipe dream.
When federal and state governments stop being greedy and hostile to business, you’ll see them and their money pouring into this country. Blame the government policies, not the engine of prosperity.
Any company that thinks they can design an all electric vehicle needs to have one executive permanently located in Phoenix, and another in Minneapolis. The company can design all the neat communications, navigation, social media, and selfie gadgets they want, but if they can’t heat it in Minneapolis when the temperature is -25, or air condition it in Phoenix when the temperature is 115, they won’t sell more than a few vehicles to a few Silicone Valley and Hollywood millionaires. And, oh, yah (a little Minnesota lingo there), it also needs to go more than go to and from work without a recharge. Ever so often, you need to stop at the beer store and the hardware store and maybe even run over to the other side of town, too.
Apple’s business model won’t work with an electric car.
A unique, patented electrical outlet and power cord and being unable to replace the battery.
BTW, I’m an Apple fan, own several.
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