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>I'm really curious what Apple's differentiators will be. There's room for more than one car company like this. If Apple brings high quality, tight fit and fi

>I'm really curious what Apple's differentiators will be. There's room for more than one car company like this. If Apple brings high quality, tight fit and finish, elegant design, software focus, vertical integration (including their new M1 processor tech), logistics support (charging station network, maintenance, etc), and "next-level batteries" to the mix, then I'm sure they'll find space in the market. If Apple can execute with electric cars as they've executed with consumer electronics, then they'll be competing not just with Tesla, but directly with Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, etc.

jdhn 6y ago
>logistics support (charging station network, maintenance, etc) Honestly, if Apple bought out the existing non-Tesla charging networks and dedicated even a sliver of their UX talent to improving the charging experience, they would really push things forward. This is, of course, assuming that buying the charging networks would make it past the anti-trust people.
- jayd16 6y ago
  > even a sliver of their UX talent to improving the charging experience Would I have to flip my iCar over and plug into the bottom center?
  - jdhn 6y ago
    Yes, but don't worry, the charging station will automatically do that for you.
neogodless 6y ago
But lately Apple has been trending towards not including the charger.
- SkyMarshal 6y ago
  Haha, touche. At least customers won't be complaining about the lack of user-replaceable batteries in Apple electric cars.
- wefarrell 6y ago
  I know you meant this tongue in cheek but I think one day cars will be wirelessly charged through certain roads.
vsareto 6y ago
The processor tech isn't going to do much for cars. They could get by with something cheaper no doubt. I don't think anyone really cares about clock speed or processor efficiency in a car because you're not really doing anything that last decades' processors couldn't handle (especially with less bloated code bases). Maybe face recognition + key fob presence to authenticate and start the car. I don't know if Apple's quality is going to translate to cars either unless they poach a bunch of people. Safety features will compromise the quality at some point, but maybe they're good enough to work around it elegantly. Plus people paid a premium for Apple's quality, but are they willing to do so when that premium is multiple thousands of dollars extra for a car? They could afford low/zero cost financing if they wanted to.
- billylindeman 6y ago
  "apples quality" if the car was the quality of my touchbar macbook i'd leave it on the side of the road and walk home
cobookman 6y ago
An EV that just works that appeals to the luxury buyer. Tesla is still far from that. I've yet to meet a tesla owner who's car just "Works" without any issues or fiddling. GM's & Nissan's EVs fit that bucket. But they are designed as "buget" cars and dont evoke a desire from buyers to be excited about them on a day-to-day basis.
- sib 6y ago
  <raises hand> My interactions with Tesla service since acquiring my Model 3 in December 2018: (1) Install rear spoiler (out of stock when car originally ordered - free service) (2) Upgrade self-driving computer to version 3 (free service given the car had the FSD option) (3) Rotate tires All three were performed at my home, at my convenience, by a tech who just showed up and did his business without needing my attention. Car and experience have been great - so good that my wife leased a Model 3 in 2019 and will be replacing it with a Model Y when the lease expires.

jdhn 6y ago

>logistics support (charging station network, maintenance, etc) Honestly, if Apple bought out the existing non-Tesla charging networks and dedicated even a sliver of their UX talent to improving the charging experience, they would really push things forward. This is, of course, assuming that buying the charging networks would make it past the anti-trust people.

jayd16 6y ago
> even a sliver of their UX talent to improving the charging experience Would I have to flip my iCar over and plug into the bottom center?
- jdhn 6y ago
  Yes, but don't worry, the charging station will automatically do that for you.

neogodless 6y ago

But lately Apple has been trending towards not including the charger.

SkyMarshal 6y ago
Haha, touche. At least customers won't be complaining about the lack of user-replaceable batteries in Apple electric cars.
wefarrell 6y ago
I know you meant this tongue in cheek but I think one day cars will be wirelessly charged through certain roads.

vsareto 6y ago

The processor tech isn't going to do much for cars. They could get by with something cheaper no doubt. I don't think anyone really cares about clock speed or processor efficiency in a car because you're not really doing anything that last decades' processors couldn't handle (especially with less bloated code bases). Maybe face recognition + key fob presence to authenticate and start the car. I don't know if Apple's quality is going to translate to cars either unless they poach a bunch of people. Safety features will compromise the quality at some point, but maybe they're good enough to work around it elegantly. Plus people paid a premium for Apple's quality, but are they willing to do so when that premium is multiple thousands of dollars extra for a car? They could afford low/zero cost financing if they wanted to.

billylindeman 6y ago
"apples quality" if the car was the quality of my touchbar macbook i'd leave it on the side of the road and walk home

cobookman 6y ago

An EV that just works that appeals to the luxury buyer. Tesla is still far from that. I've yet to meet a tesla owner who's car just "Works" without any issues or fiddling. GM's & Nissan's EVs fit that bucket. But they are designed as "buget" cars and dont evoke a desire from buyers to be excited about them on a day-to-day basis.

sib 6y ago
<raises hand> My interactions with Tesla service since acquiring my Model 3 in December 2018: (1) Install rear spoiler (out of stock when car originally ordered - free service) (2) Upgrade self-driving computer to version 3 (free service given the car had the FSD option) (3) Rotate tires All three were performed at my home, at my convenience, by a tech who just showed up and did his business without needing my attention. Car and experience have been great - so good that my wife leased a Model 3 in 2019 and will be replacing it with a Model Y when the lease expires.