Rumors surrounding Apple's impending foray into the electric car business have been going on for some time, and considering the tech giant's latest business decisions such as its purchase of a 96,000-square-foot warehouse in Sunnyvale, Calif., the assumptions about the company's commitment to the creation of its first original vehicle do seem well-founded.
There is just one problem, of course. Apple might be a tried and tested company when it comes to the tech arena, having dominated the smartphone market for years and creating one of the most well-rounded mobile operating systems ever released. The company, however, remains a neophyte when it comes to the automotive industry.
Speaking about the development of the rumored Apple Car in the Geneva Auto Show, FIAT CEO Sergio Marchionne stated that the Cupertino-based tech giant would be better off collaborating with veterans of the automotive industry instead of attempting to create a vehicle on its own.
Marchionne further stated that the automotive industry is a very "complex business," and that what Apple is currently feeling about the project right now might be an "illness" that it must recover from.
"If they have any urges to make a car, I'd advise them to lie down and wait until the feeling passes. Illnesses like this come and go. You will recover from them. They're not lethal," he said.
In a lot of ways, the Fiat chief has a very valid point. After all, Apple has allegedly been struck by a number of setbacks in the Apple Car project, including the technical head of the team leaving the company for personal reasons. Regardless of the setbacks, however, Apple has been consistently showing signs that the rumored Apple Car project is moving full speed ahead.
Then again, this is Apple that is undertaking the project. If there is anything that the company has proven through the years, it is the fact that it does not really rush into things, releasing a product that is half-baked and not ready for mass consumption.
Apart from this, Apple was reported to have been working with a number of consultants from prominent car companies. There are also rumors that Apple is in talks with German automaker BMW as a possible manufacturing partner.
If Apple does go with BMW, the American tech giant might very well be in good hands. After all, BMW's electric cars have been well-received by both consumers and critics alike. Otherwise, Apple's learning curve would be a lot steeper.
