All discussion of Apple EV

[heltok]

The difficult part for Apple and any Tesla competitor is making a car that is equal or better than a Tesla for around the same price and making money.

It is fairly unlikely Apple or their partner can build the non-software part of the car cheaper than Tesla, Tesla already has all the software they need including FSD.

Apple (or whoever) has to develop the software and compete in the market place.
Outside of the cars themselves, software (FSD) and entertainment are potential income streams.

I think Apple would be happy to more or less break-even on the car, and would aim to make money from the software.
But it is a tough business, simply making the car compelling via software is hard, a combination of software and hardware is needed.

In addition, how does the car supplier make money?

There are 2 options:-

1. Mark up the cost of the car.
2. Take a cut from software revenues.

IMO it is no accident some of the companies dealing with Apple have asked for a slice of the software revenues.

Contrast this to Tesla, they already have the software revenues, so they have scope to price the car competitively, if they really need to.

So Apple might (or might not) end up being a competitor, there is plenty of market there available for all at present, but it is only available easily for the next 3-5 years. Arriving when the guests are leaving the party, or when the Super Bowl is over, is bad timing.
Once EVs are at saturation close to 100% of new car sales, we will have competition, that isn't a great time for a new player to enter the market.

If Apple want to make the car themselves to have control over the design, I assume that they will either
1. Use Foxconn/Magna Steyr
2. Buy some automaker outright like they did with Beats

Do you guys see any other option? I still think Apple making software and FSD hardware for everyone as the most likely possibility.

 

[MC3OZ]

If Apple want to make the car themselves to have control over the design, I assume that they will either
1. Use Foxconn/Magna Steyr
2. Buy some automaker outright like they did with Beats

Do you guys see any other option? I still think Apple making software and FSD hardware for everyone as the most likely possibility.

Option 2. Buy an automaker outright is the best option IMO.

Otherwise the car will be high priced before Apple adds anything to it.

 

[Mo City]

Apple buying an OEM absolutely will not happen.

They will either find a subservient partner (perhaps softening their demands) or give up.

IMO, first one is very likely.

 

[mspohr]

Shed A Tear For Apple, For Nobody Wants To Help It Make A Car

Poor, poor Apple. The world’s richest company (it slides up and down, but it’s always hovering near the top) wanted only to find an automaker to be its dancing partner for its autonomous, electric car project. It probably envisioned the likes of Hyundai and Nissan would fall over themselves for...

jalopnik.com

Poor, poor Apple. The world’s richest company (it slides up and down, but it’s always hovering near the top) wanted only to find an automaker to be its dancing partner for its autonomous, electric car project. It probably envisioned the likes of Hyundai and Nissan would fall over themselves for the mere opportunity to contribute all their latest technology and manufacturing expertise to a vehicle for which they’d receive no credit in the marketplace.

Well, what a surprise — it hasn’t happened. After Hyundai wrangled with (and leaked) a potential partnership, and then Nissan was rumored to have done the same, Apple’s met with a handful of carmakers with nothing to show for it. Now it has little choice but to turn to a contract manufacturer, like Magna Steyr or its familiar friends at Foxconn, according to a new Bloomberg report.

 

[mspohr]

Foxconn says it might revive Wisconsin plant to make electric cars
In February Young pledged two or three EV’s using the platform by the end of this year. On Tuesday he said the company aimed to eventually provide 10% of all EV production, and indicated the company was in partnership talks with at least one other US company. Young declined to name the company but said they were not a traditional vehicle manufacturer.

 

[MXWing]

Mama Cathie not enthused about the Apple i-KIA.

Sold out all of AAPL.

 

[heltok]

Apple lost their head of machine learning:

Apple's director of machine learning, Ian Goodfellow, has resigned from his role a little over four years after he joined the company after previously being one of Google's top AI employees, according to The Verge's Zoë Schiffer.



Goodfellow reportedly broke the news to staff in an email, saying his resignation is in part due to Apple's plan to return to in-person work, which required employees to work from the office at least one day per week by April 11, at least two days per week by May 2, and at least three days per week by May 23. "I believe strongly that more flexibility would have been the best policy for my team," Goodfellow said in the email.


Apple employees began returning to Apple Park last month, with the three-day in-office work policy being enacted on May 23. Some employees have been unhappy about the plan to return to in-person work.


In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook during the summer, a group of employees said "Without the inclusivity that flexibility brings, many of us feel we have to choose between either a combination of our families, our well-being, and being empowered to do our best work, or being a part of Apple. This is a decision none of us take lightly, and a decision many would prefer not to have to make."

While Elon sleeps on the factory floor, this guy refused to go into the office 3 times per week. Doubt Elon would hire him…

 

[mspohr]

Apple lost their head of machine learning:

In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook during the summer, a group of employees said "Without the inclusivity that flexibility brings, many of us feel we have to choose between either a combination of our families, our well-being, and being empowered to do our best work, or being a part of Apple. This is a decision none of us take lightly, and a decision many would prefer not to have to make."

While Elon sleeps on the factory floor, this guy refused to go into the office 3 times per week. Doubt Elon would hire him…

I think Elon needed to be at the factory to fix production. This guy could do his job anywhere. Probably better at home away from the distractions of the office.

 

[heltok]

I think Elon needed to be at the factory to fix production. This guy could do his job anywhere. Probably better at home away from the distractions of the office.

Sure if you are an engineer, but not when you are a leader/manager.