I'm going to throw my 2¢ into the ring here.
Apple will make a electric car at some point, and it will utilize the Tesla Supercharger network. Tesla said anyone can use the superchargers if they are willing to invest as much as Tesla to build it out (no freeloading basically). Who has a ton of cash, and also loves being green these days? Apple. Also a lot of that cash is overseas, so building out the international network of superchargers actually helps Apple spend that money without paying huge US taxes on it.
Apple spending $1 billion a year on expanding the supercharger network is pennies for them. Tesla wins, Apple wins, consumers win. The potential market in automotive is massive, and there is plenty of room for both Tesla and Apple. They lock up the electric market, and have a huge early mover advantage.
I can't think of any other company with the deep pockets, and willingness to dive into this beyond Apple.
/Edit Also Apple needs batteries, and new battery tech. Why not team up with a company that will soon have the leading supply of both? Tesla doesn't compete with them for laptops, but sure could use the investment to help build out the gigafactory. Apple then gets reliable supply of batteries for it's ever expanding list of mobile devices (and future potential Apple electric cars).
Apple will make a electric car at some point, and it will utilize the Tesla Supercharger network. Tesla said anyone can use the superchargers if they are willing to invest as much as Tesla to build it out (no freeloading basically). Who has a ton of cash, and also loves being green these days? Apple. Also a lot of that cash is overseas, so building out the international network of superchargers actually helps Apple spend that money without paying huge US taxes on it.
Apple spending $1 billion a year on expanding the supercharger network is pennies for them. Tesla wins, Apple wins, consumers win. The potential market in automotive is massive, and there is plenty of room for both Tesla and Apple. They lock up the electric market, and have a huge early mover advantage.
I can't think of any other company with the deep pockets, and willingness to dive into this beyond Apple.
/Edit Also Apple needs batteries, and new battery tech. Why not team up with a company that will soon have the leading supply of both? Tesla doesn't compete with them for laptops, but sure could use the investment to help build out the gigafactory. Apple then gets reliable supply of batteries for it's ever expanding list of mobile devices (and future potential Apple electric cars).
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