Apple scales back ambitious autonomous car debut: report
Apple has reportedly scaled back the debut of its self-driving electric vehicle, delaying the car’s targeted launch date to 2026.
Bloomberg reported Monday, citing people with knowledge of the matter, that the project – known as Project Titan – has been in limbo for the past several months.
Apple is now planning a “less-ambitious design,” the sources told the outlet, including a steering wheel and pedals and only support full autonomous capabilities on highways.
In addition, Bloomberg said that the tech giant plans to develop a vehicle that lets drivers conduct other tasks on a freeway, and be alerted with time to switch over to manual control if they reach city streets or encounter inclement weather.
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The Apple Inc. logo is seen at the entrance to the Apple store in Brussels, Belgium Nov. 28, 2022.
(Reuters/Yves Herman)
The company has allegedly discussed launch in the feature in North America before rolling it out elsewhere over time.
Bloomberg added that Apple aims to sell the consumer model for less than $100,000 and is exploring the ideas of a remote command center and its own insurance program.
Features would be set by the end of 2024 ahead of testing in 2025.
The Apple logo is seen during the preview of the redesigned and reimagined Apple Fifth Avenue store in New York, Sept. 19, 2019.
(Reuters/Brendan McDermid/File Photo)
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In 2021, a prior Bloomberg report said that Apple had been pushing to launch its electric car as early as 2025, with cars ideally having no steering wheel and pedals.
Reuters said in 2020 that Apple was targeting 2024 to produce the vehicle.
The logo of the American multinational technology company Apple headquartered in Cupertino, California, that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services is seen in the Munich pedestrian zone.
((Photo by Alexander Pohl/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
Apple shares fell 2.4% after the report.
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Apple did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter.
Reuters contributed to this report.