Apple has learned that building an autonomous car is difficult, even if you are one of the largest companies in the world.
According to BloombergMark Gurman, Apple is reducing the design of its first self-driving car and delaying the launch. The latest Intel said it will be released in 2025, but now the car is expected to be delayed until 2026.
Apple has been working on its secret AV project, called “Titan” for years. In 2021, details emerged about the car’s design without a steering wheel or pedals, making it truly, actually autonomous compared to other AVs such as those developed by Tesla. But now it seems that Apple has been slowed down by technical problems.
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“[The project] “has been floundering for the past few months as Apple executives grappled with the reality that its vision of a self-driving car — without a steering wheel or pedals — isn’t possible with current technology,” Gurman says.
Apple is now forced to put in a few screens, and a new way to sell the car. The giant’s updated plans include AV and steering wheel and pedals, and everything autonomous will be available only on highways. In these cases, the driver of the “Apple Car” will be notified when it is time to take control of the wheel.
Per Gurman, Apple’s AV would use integrated cameras and lidar/radar sensors, and be powered by a computer system “equivalent to four of Apple’s most advanced chips combined.” The chip, developed in-house by Apple engineers, is said to be in its advanced stages and close to being ready for production.
Initially, the Apple AV was said to have a price tag of $120,000, but with these updates it is expected to sell for a price tag of $100,000.
