Before the intellectual giant Steve Jobs passed away, he disclosed his dream to reform the automotive space and ‘challenge Detroit’ by making an Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iCar. The tech company is taking steps to inch closer to the founder’s vision. The Cupertino company is not making an iCar, at least at the moment, but it is surely increasing its presence in the automotive space as it plans to add iOS functional features for cars. In addition, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s website shows automotive job vacancies, which suggests its rising interest in the telematics arena.
Edging closer to the auto world
A number of events indicate Apple’s endeavor to occupy a significant position in the automobile sector. The new job postings, the invention of auto oriented products, and partnerships with auto giants are some of the progress that the company is undertaking to achieve Jobs’ vision.
The company is hiring for the position of a Manager of in-car services and a Specialist for iOS car services to test the integration of its iPads, iPhones and iPod with a vehicle. This is basically to increase telematics expertise and improve infotainment systems for cars.
Other than this, in the past year one of the company executives, Eddy Cu, joined the board of Ferrari. Since then there are rumors that the tech giant is collaborating with the car maker to make a dashboard system for vehicles. In fact, the Italian auto manufacturer recently confirmed its partnership with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to re-invent its in-car entertainment system. Its latest four seater hybrid LaFerrari will not only be able to support the Eye Free Siri, but will also possess iPad Minis in the back seat. The company partnered with several automakers, including Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:TM), General Motors Company (NYSE:GM), Chrysler, Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC), Hyundai, Land Rover, Jaguar, BMW, and Mercedes Benz to check the integration of its services in cars.
Archrival Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has also entered into the car innovation segment and has been developing its technology to make a driverless car. Since the late 2000s many experiments have been performed to test the safety of a driver-free car, but legal issues stand as one of the biggest bumps in Google’s way. The company’s driverless car has been experimented to run safely for thousands of miles without crashing. But the main legal concern is that if such a car meets with an accident, who is to be blamed?
Such an interesting invention from Google makes it very crucial for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to develop some spectacular automotive technology to live up to its reputation of being an innovator. It could either make a car itself, integrate its devices and new products with one, or it could even manufacture cars in collaboration with GM or Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F). In fact, quite a few years back word had spread that the Cupertino company was working with Volkswagen to build cars.
