Pretty much all of us are familiar with Apple, the iconic brand, which remains synonymous with high quality smartphones and some of the most stylish personal computers on the market.
This core model underpins a highly successful brand, and one that recorded revenues of $274.515 billion in 2020, alongside a total net income of $66.288 billion during the same reporting period.
However, Apple is also involved in a number of more advanced projects, including the development of a smart, fully autonomous car. But what’s the history of this project, and when is it likely to deliver a reward?
Apple’s History With Drivers Vehicles
Interestingly, Apple’s interest in an autonomous car dates back to before the launch of the original iPhone in 2007, with executives discussing the construction of such a vehicle before the device was released.
The late Steve Jobs considered developing an Apple Car prior to the iPhone, and even met with the manufacturer of the lightweight, inexpensive ‘V-Vehicle’ in 2010. However, he decided against working on a car at this time, insteading focusing his team’s creative efforts on the now iconic iPhone.
However, the legacy and popularity of the iPhone has long-since been assured, with a total market share of 15.2% achieved during the third quarter of 2021. This has encouraged Apple to turn its attention to other avenues of research and development, with the design of an autonomous vehicle top of its list of interests.
This process began with the potential development of a product similar to Google Street View back in early 2015, with this preceding initial research into a self-driving vehicle that could ultimately rival Tesla and other major players in this burgeoning marketplace.
Around the same time, Apple also launched ‘Project Titan’, which was driven by upwards of 1,000 car experts and engineers who were charged with an electric vehicle at a secret location close to the brand’s Cupertino headquarters.
Where is the Project At Now?
Apparently, this project is now gaining significant momentum, after shifting and changing considerably over the course of the last few years.
This tumult has largely been the result of internal issues and leadership challenges, with 2016 seeing reports that Apple had actually shelved plans to develop a driverless car. However, the most recent news suggests that development remains on track, which is great news for stock investors who have recently completed an MT4 Mac download.
Currently, Apple is rumoured to be working prolifically on a fully autonomous, self-driving car, and one that won’t require any kind of driver intervention at all.
This is further than any other car manufacturer has gone to date, with this highly ambitious project typical of a firm whose smartphone and laptop designs have continued to break new ground through the years.
Just how long it takes for the project to come to fruition remains unknown, but Apple certainly seems to be on track for a quick release that may afford them a competitive edge over their rivals in the marketplace.