The long-speculated and rumored Apple Car is no more, as it was announced internally by the company that it already canceled the development of this electric vehicle initiative for the future. This would not be a temporary suspension on Apple's focus and initiative here, as the latest reports claim that it is entirely wiped off from the company's plans for electric mobility.
Previously known as the "Project Titan," Cupertino's take on this fully autonomous electric car has been closely monitored by the world, from its changing of partner manufacturers, down to its test drivers earlier this year.
Goodbye Apple Car: Cupertino Cancels EV Project
(Photo : Ming Yeung/Getty Images)
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently reported that Apple has already canceled the Apple Car project, after more than a decade of development on the electric vehicle. This was announced earlier in front of as many as 2,000 employees, surprising them with this revelation from Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams and Vice President of the Apple Car venture, Kevin Lynch.
In this development, Apple is allocating its resources to other technologies, with the employees under the Special Projects Group (SPG) shifting towards its artificial intelligence division. The AI division is led by Apple executive John Giannaandrea, with this team now ramping up its developments on the company's new priority, machine learning.
The recent announcement shocked the team with the project now bidding its goodbye.
Project Titan has been around for more than 10 years now, and this centers on Cupertino's plans to deliver an electric car that will center on full autonomy, getting the iconic "Apple" treatment on technology. Many anticipated the massive focus of Apple toward clean energy mobility, one that was revered as a game changer in the tech and automotive industry.
Apple Car and its Developments in the Past
For years now, the Apple Car has been the talk of the town, and there are claims that this electric vehicle will be available before the 2020 decade ends but no longer beyond 2030. In later talks, it was regarded that the Apple Car would bring its first iteration come 2026, one that will no longer try to achieve full autonomy, centering on a new chip.
In the early years of 2020, there have been ramping talks behind Apple seeking a partner that will help them manufacture and produce its take on EVs. This included the likes of Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Lamborghini, and more to help them in their quest for an electric vehicle.
From its early iterations until around two years ago, it was said that the Apple Car would center on a driverless car, one that would not have a steering wheel. However, this changed amidst the autonomy's scrutiny among other manufacturers.
The many changes in the Apple Car led to doubts about the EV's development and supposed arrival to the public, especially with the departure of many executives behind the project. Despite the hopeful talks earlier this year for the project, the worst outcome arrived for Apple, bringing its heavy decision internally and canceling the Apple Car with no more plans in the future.
