Apple, Spurned by Others, Signs Deal With Volkswagen for Driverless Cars

Apple to go in for Driverless cars with Volkswagen

From iPhones and iPads to autonomous vehicles, Apple has got it’s hands busy. Apple initially had its plans to make its own self driving cars and be a pioneer in the next generation form of transport. But since those initial plans, things have changed. At first Apple concentrated on making their own software for autonomous vehicles and then it moved on to making autonomous shuttles for their employees.

Next came, Apple’s decision to join with an auto partner in making self- driving cars. Apple’s initial choice had been BMW and Mercedes- Benz but talks with both companies broke down and nothing went further. So now Apple has joined hands with Volkswagen to transform Volkswagen’s T6 Transporter vans into Apple’s self- driving shuttles that they use for their employees.

Rough waters for Apple’s Self driving cars:

Apple’s four year plan to make self- driving cars has not been easy sailing. Apple’s breakdown of talks with other auto manufacturers and the fact that Apple- Volkswagen talks have previously not been made public suggests that the program may not be free from worries.

A lack of clear direction and morale has pushed many people working on the project to call it quits. Roughly around 1000 members of the team have quit.

These factors have pushed Apple even further in the race for self- driving cars. Already Waymo, a business started from Google and some start- ups have already started testing out autonomous vehicles on the road.

While some of the autonomous vehicles have been successful, others have discontinued the programs leading to major layoffs.

The origins of Apple’s self- driving program: 

Apple initially took the wheel of self- driving cars back in 2014 with Titan and T172. Apple had plans of coming out with its own self driving car which would be the car version of an iPhone. According to former employees working on the project, Apple had plans of making a plush interior filled car and seats facing each other instead of the front.

Apple took on software engineers, programmers, rocket scientists, automotive engineers, designers and the like to bring to reality their autonomous car. Some of the ideas include holographic displays on the windshields, a sun proof roof made of polymers to reduce the heat from the sun and windows with adjustable tints.

Apple had invested in hundred and millions of dollars in R&D labs around Cupertino including machine shops and labs that dealt with electric car batteries.

Not a Simple Affair:

Apple soon found out that building an autonomous car was not child’s play. After experiencing a number of hurdles regarding the autonomous driving program, Apple soon decided to partner up with an auto manufacturer to build the cars but not design them.

Apple soon went in for talks with various auto manufacturers to bring their autonomous car plan’s to fruition. But none of them worked out until Apple came across Volkswagen. Volkswagen too jumped at the opportunity to work with Apple.