Infrastructure
Apple Shifts Gears: Electric Car Development Hits The Brakes
Apple CEO Tim Cook
iPhone and Macbook maker Apple, has reportedly cancelled its plans to build electric cars, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday, a decade after the company kicked off the project.
Several employees working on the electric car project will be shifted to the firm's artificial intelligence (AI) division, according to Bloomberg News, which first reported the development.
While Apple has not provided any official comment, the move to shift-away from electric vehicles comes amidst souring consumer sentiment and a slowdown in demand for usually pricier electric vehicles.
In 2014, Apple began working on "Project Titan," with more than 1,000 car experts and engineers developing an electric vehicle at a secret location near the company's Cupertino headquarters.
A Reuters report in 2020 even suggested that Apple was considering releasing a vehicle as soon as 2024 or 2025. However, progress on this endeavor faced challenges even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly disrupted the global automotive industry.
As it spent billions of dollars on research and development, the company was initially rumoured to be developing a fully autonomous vehicle devoid of traditional features like a steering wheel and pedals.
However, the concept evolved over time, transitioning from a radical, steering-wheel-free autonomous design to a more conventional car equipped with advanced driver-assistance features.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
