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The Apple Car Project is sometimes referred to as Project Titan, a term used to refer to Apple-designed cars and self-driving car systems. Over the years, multiple cycles of rumors have converged on a fully autonomous car that requires little human intervention while driving.
Rumors of Apple’s foray into the auto industry date back to 2014, when the first leak described Project Titan focused on vehicles. Apple formed a shell company called SixtyEight Research and began work at a California factory called SG5.
The Titan project team has undergone many changes in the ensuing years. Bob Mansfield, who took over as project leader in 2016, said at the time that Apple would not compete directly with Tesla. A lot has happened since then, and the COVID-19 pandemic is said to be a factor in Apple’s shunning of the project. Before Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted on Wednesday, there were few rumors about the progress of the project. Ming-Chi Kuo has also said that Apple is unlikely to launch a vehicle before 2025.
In August 2018, he said the earliest date for an Apple car’s public announcement could be 2023. Previously speculated dates also included 2020 and 2021, which undoubtedly did not materialize, and the delay was related to the departure of the team leader.
Tianfeng Securities, where Guo Mingchi works, expects the launch of Apple car products between 2025 and 2027. Apple may partner with Kia to make cars, and the company has also approached other manufacturers such as Nissan and Hyundai.