Apple’s Project Titan is working on a self-driving electric vehicle for a 2025 launch, according to a report from Bloomberg.
Apple silicon
Apple has completed “much of the core work” on a specialised processor designed to power its self-driving electric car, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. According to the report, the company aims to launch the vehicle in four years time.
In recent years, Apple’s chip development has expanded and their performance is impressive. The car’s chip is “the most advanced component” of the vehicle, according to Gurman and the company is nearing a real-world trial of a fleet of test vehicles in California.
Touch-controlled
Rumours suggest that Apple intends to deliver a vehicle without a steering wheel. The vehicle would be controlled by a large touchscreen device running an OS similar to iOS. The interior of the vehicle could be spacious and feature limousine-style seating.
There has been speculation over Apple’s business model regarding the car, with some sources claiming that the company seeks to compete with Uber, Lyft and other services, however, Gurman’s report claims that “more likely scenario” is that Apple will sell direct to individuals.
No proprietary cable
According to Gurman, Apple does not wish to develop a proprietary charging cable for the car. Instead, the company wants to make the vehicle compatible with the public “combined charging system” (CCS) standard, allowing the vehicle to be charged at most public charging stations.
Leadership shuffles
Apple’s Project Titan was established in 2014. Five different executives have run the Project to date. Speculation by The Verge questions whether the movement of leadership around the position is a sign of progress being made, or a continued shifting of the goal.
