16- Apple has terminated its Apple Car project, disbanding a team of 2,000 employees to refocus efforts on artificial intelligence and other products stemming from its decade-long automotive exploration.
While Apple has maintained a veil of secrecy surrounding its vehicle development, insiders have unveiled details, including insights into the testing of early concepts.
One such revelation emerged from a report recounting an incident in the fall of 2015. Apple’s chief designer, Jony Ive, and CEO Tim Cook endeavored to demonstrate an early Apple Car prototype at the company’s Sunnyvale, California headquarters. At this nascent stage, Apple envisioned a vehicle transforming the conventional cabin into a mobile living room.
Initiating its automotive endeavor with aspirations for a fully autonomous vehicle, Apple gradually tempered its ambitions. Early prototypes resembled a Fiat 600 Multipla, embodying the concept of a European minivan tailored as a mobile productivity hub.
During an attempted demonstration, dubbed the Siri-powered driving engine, Apple’s prototype lacked Siri integration. Instead, an actor mimicked Siri’s responses, indicative of the project’s nascent stage.
Despite the initial vision, Apple ultimately pivoted from its innovative approach, opting for conventional features such as steering wheels, pedals, and limited self-driving capabilities.
Project Titan was shelved, yet Apple’s accumulation of automotive-related patents and expertise continues to inform future endeavors, notably in artificial intelligence.
While Apple exits the automotive arena, it maintains a foothold through products like CarPlay, Apple Maps, and Siri, with potential developments anticipated at upcoming events like WWDC.