Another day, another development in the news that took the industry by storm this week – the possibility of a car from tech giant Apple. Sources told Bloomberg News that Apple's car will be electric and could see production as soon as 2020.
Related: Will Apple Built its Own Car?
That suggests current development is still in its early stages, given it often takes five years or longer for an automaker to bring an all-new car to market. But Apple has already hired experts from a broad range of battery and electronics manufacturers, prompting a battery maker to sue the company.
The eventual Apple car (can we just call it an iCar already?) would have to compete with the expected next wave of mass-market electric vehicles – cars that can go 200 miles on a full charge and cost less than $40,000. GM confirmed its plans this month in the forthcoming Chevrolet Bolt, though an exact timeframe remains elusive. Tesla's plans for an affordable EV that slots under the Model S, meanwhile, are well underway (5).
Unlike many other would-be automakers, Apple's retail network could allow it to sell cars in Tesla-style factory stores. The Silicon Valley automaker has courted plenty of controversy with its dealer-free model, however, and several states have even banned Tesla sales under dealer franchise laws. There would also need to be a whole new type of "genius" to service the vehicles. If Apple went that route, expect a few bumps along the way.
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