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While Apple revolutionized some industries in the past, I wonder if manufacturing cars makes any sense for them. Under Steve Jobs, Apple has completely changed

While Apple revolutionized some industries in the past, I wonder if manufacturing cars makes any sense for them. Under Steve Jobs, Apple has completely changed computers, the music and entertainment industries, cell phones and mobile devices. They did all this to sell hardware. I don't see how they can revolutionize the car business anymore than Google or any of the other large companies doing autonomous cars. They're going to have to bring something to the table other than a car. All of the large car companies have autonomous vehicle research programs. They can spin out a product, as they've done when Toyota's Prius became a commercial hit. On the lower end of the scale, there are cars coming from China, possibly India and other nations which are due to hit the US soon. Getting into the auto market against the high end Mercedes, Audis, BMWs, and Italian cars would be a tough market. They would also be competing against well established and loved brands. Not sure what part of the market they would fit in or even target.

z92 12y ago
There were a lot of pocket MP3 Players in the market before iPad, too.
lucozade 12y ago
These are all very good reasons for not bringing out a mobile phone. There were well liked and established brands: Nokia, Motorola, Erickson, Blackberry. There was a glut at the cheaper end. I have no idea if Apple are working on a car or not. I doubt they would revolutionise the car business any more than they revolutionised the phone business. But for Apple to make a big dent in a sector that is highly technical but with significant brand and aesthetic factors? That doesn't strike me as being very far fetched at all.
- aceperry 12y ago
  "Nokia, Motorola, Erickson, Blackberry. There was a glut at the cheaper end" None of the dominant phones had what Apple's iphone had. Apple is clearly not catering to the low end/margin business either. "But for Apple to make a big dent in a sector that is highly technical but with significant brand and aesthetic factors?" Not sure what you're saying here. But in the past, Apple introduced some major changes to the marketplace around their products. They would have to do that if they want to be competitive in the automotive space.
fit2rule 12y ago
As far as bringing things to the table, Apple have out-maneuvered every other manufacturer of devices they compete with in each each respective market. The computer as a center of lifestyle is pretty much Apples' domain at this point, they defined it as a domain over decades of work, and they are a market leader. And I believe - given the nature of Apples' history, as well as its clearly stated goals to revolutionize the way humans interact with the world, which is a spiritual asset - it only makes total sense for them to start applying their dogma to other realms. An Apple car, an Apple Jet, Apple rockets .. why not? In the end, if the same thing happens to [product] as happened with computing, the "Apple Way" may .. very well .. be an appropriate contribution to the next few hundred years of manufacturing. (Its the "Apple 3D-printer/molecular-assembler" that will truly kick the religion up a gear..) Its going to be super interesting to see Tesla and Apple in 5 - 10 years time. Or maybe something else that rises in all this serious industrial privilege that we're all a party to. If it were possible, I'd put on my TeslApple googles, don the TesLevi protective suit appropriate to my rank, crank up the Goojuice, hit the power button and go 'bong' in unison with the rocket engines as we watch Brain'oSoft lifestyle movies on my way to LEO-station Alpha Jobs. Since thats just a fantasy, going for a ride in a rich friends Apple Car will suffice. Hope it happens.

z92 12y ago

There were a lot of pocket MP3 Players in the market before iPad, too.

lucozade 12y ago

These are all very good reasons for not bringing out a mobile phone. There were well liked and established brands: Nokia, Motorola, Erickson, Blackberry. There was a glut at the cheaper end. I have no idea if Apple are working on a car or not. I doubt they would revolutionise the car business any more than they revolutionised the phone business. But for Apple to make a big dent in a sector that is highly technical but with significant brand and aesthetic factors? That doesn't strike me as being very far fetched at all.

aceperry 12y ago
"Nokia, Motorola, Erickson, Blackberry. There was a glut at the cheaper end" None of the dominant phones had what Apple's iphone had. Apple is clearly not catering to the low end/margin business either. "But for Apple to make a big dent in a sector that is highly technical but with significant brand and aesthetic factors?" Not sure what you're saying here. But in the past, Apple introduced some major changes to the marketplace around their products. They would have to do that if they want to be competitive in the automotive space.

fit2rule 12y ago

As far as bringing things to the table, Apple have out-maneuvered every other manufacturer of devices they compete with in each each respective market. The computer as a center of lifestyle is pretty much Apples' domain at this point, they defined it as a domain over decades of work, and they are a market leader. And I believe - given the nature of Apples' history, as well as its clearly stated goals to revolutionize the way humans interact with the world, which is a spiritual asset - it only makes total sense for them to start applying their dogma to other realms. An Apple car, an Apple Jet, Apple rockets .. why not? In the end, if the same thing happens to [product] as happened with computing, the "Apple Way" may .. very well .. be an appropriate contribution to the next few hundred years of manufacturing. (Its the "Apple 3D-printer/molecular-assembler" that will truly kick the religion up a gear..) Its going to be super interesting to see Tesla and Apple in 5 - 10 years time. Or maybe something else that rises in all this serious industrial privilege that we're all a party to. If it were possible, I'd put on my TeslApple googles, don the TesLevi protective suit appropriate to my rank, crank up the Goojuice, hit the power button and go 'bong' in unison with the rocket engines as we watch Brain'oSoft lifestyle movies on my way to LEO-station Alpha Jobs. Since thats just a fantasy, going for a ride in a rich friends Apple Car will suffice. Hope it happens.