Car enthusiasts who want to own an Apple Car may have to wait a little longer, as new reports say the car's launching has been pushed back by a year to 2021. Previous rumors have claimed the Cupertino-based company initially planned to release the car by 2020.
Now, here's what is currently known about Apple Car release date, features and rumors on the web.
A report from Information says Apple's car project has "run into challenges." In addition, changes in leadership and computing power issues are to blame for the postponed launching. Apple is reportedly purchasing specially designed servers to record a massive amount of data for the car's self-driving feature.
Furthermore, the resignation of Steve Zadesky, one of Apple car's project head, became a problem as engineers have to adjust in the new system. Zadesky said he left Apple for "personal reasons." He served the company for more than 16 years.
Zadesky was replaced by former Telsa VP of Vehicle Engineering, Chris Porritt.
Apple is tight-lipped about its plans for the car, which is codenamed Project Titan. Previous reports suggest the company is making an all-electric vehicle that has autonomous driving feature.
Apple has experienced its first revenue decline since the iPhone's launch in 2007 last quarter. That's why many economists say the company is in need of a major sales booster. If that's the case, the car would be a good product, as per report from Fortune.
However, making a car is much more difficult than developing a new smartphone or laptop. Car industry is an entirely new field for Apple. In the past few months, the Cupertino tech firm hired hundreds of engineers from big car manufacturers to gain more knowledge about vehicle technology.
On the other hand, some big names in the automotive industry have criticized the Project Titan of Apple. Last year, former General Motors CEO Dan Akerson suggested Apple should not continue the project due to car industry's high costs and low returns. Instead of joining car industry, there's more profit in teaming up with automakers to make operating system for vehicles, Akerson added.
"Apple has no experience," Bob Lutz, another former GM executive, told in CNBC September last year. He also said Apple does not have good technology to make better car than General Motors, Ford, Volkswagen, Toyota or Hyundai.
Regardless, it seems that Apple is really determined to enter the car industry in the next few years.
What are your thoughts about the Project Titan? Let us know in the comments.
