In a surprising development, as reported by Bloomberg, Apple has officially canceled plans for an autonomous electric vehicle, marking the culmination of over a decade of efforts on the Apple Car. The company had invested substantial resources into the development of the Apple Car before determining its impracticality.
As work on the Apple Car winds down, a substantial portion of the team, which includes hardware engineers and car designers, will transition to Apple’s artificial intelligence division. Their new focus will be on generative AI under the leadership of AI chief John Giannandrea.
The restructuring will inevitably lead to layoffs, though some employees may find opportunities to transfer to other divisions within the company.
Earlier this year, rumors circulated about a scaled-back Apple Car project, with the company abandoning plans for a fully autonomous vehicle. Instead, Apple redirected its efforts towards an electric vehicle with fewer self-driving features, comparable to Tesla’s technology. The original goal was to launch the car around 2026, but those plans have now been completely shelved.
The Apple Car project first surfaced in 2014, encountering numerous challenges over the years. The project’s focus underwent multiple changes, leading to various leadership shifts within Apple. Kevin Lynch, Apple Watch chief, assumed control in 2021, working to streamline the project while maintaining its viability.
Recent decisions to wind down the Apple Car project were made by senior Apple executives in the past few weeks, signaling a strategic redirection for the company’s future endeavors.
While the cancellation of the Apple Car project is a setback, Apple remains committed to innovation. The company continues to explore groundbreaking technologies, and future endeavors are expected to contribute to Apple’s legacy of shaping the tech industry.
