Apple’s Electric iCar
Since February 2015 reports have been circulating that Apple intends manufacturing electric iCar to compete with Tesla. This source of information had come up after Business Insider had received some facts from an Apple employee with some knowledge on the development on the subject. There were rumours that Apple will now be focusing on autonomous driving system.This had added up with the findings of cars that were registered with Apple arrayed with sensors/cameras which had been exposed later and had led to the visions of Apple iCar. The Wall Street Journal had earlier stated that there were several hundred, according to Apple employees working on the project and the iCar had been named `Titan’.
Though many are of the belief that Apple had intention of moving away from autonomous car project, a latest letter addressed to US transport regulators by Steve Kenner, the director of product integrity of Apple conveys something else. Apple had seemingly informed that it had been excited about the prospective of automated system in several capacities, inclusive of transportation as well as there were substantial collective benefits of automated vehicles to be realised.
The same had been confirmed by one of spokesman of Apple that the letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – NHTSA, had been impelled by its `heavy investment in machine learning and autonomous system.
Privacy of Individual – Not to be Compromised
Moreover it also wanted to assist in outlining the best practises in the future industry. The letter had also stated not to introduce many rules with regards to the testing of self-driving cars, requesting that launching manufacturers as well as fresh entrants should be equally treated.A suggestion had been made by Kenner that companies need to share data from crashes together with near-misses in order to develop a better comprehensive image instead of one company alone supporting in improving the system. And knowing Apple to be focused on user privacy, the same would be out of character of not making a mention of it in the letter.
Besides this Kenner also observed that the privacy of the individual should not be compromised by the sharing of data which regulates `address privacy challenges connected with the collection, used together with sharing of automated vehicle data’.
Enhance Customer Experience
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple had answered during the Q4 2016 financial results of Apple topics on Apple Pay, Siri together with the importance of Apple Car. Though he had not confirmed or denied the presence of the rumoured electric car of Apple he informed that Apple always visualized for methods wherein they could enhance the experience together with the experience of the customers on various sets of products.He had further mentioned that they are always looking at new things and the car space has been an area which is evident with lot of technologies that will be available or would be capable of revolutionizing the car experience. He adds that it is so interesting from that point of view though nothing to certainly nothing to make an announcement.
The CEO of Apple as usual is being evasive on the topic and considering the same, it does indicate that Apple could have something to make an announcement in the near future.