Apple’s entry into the electric vehicle market will not cause an issue for Volkswagen. The company’s chief executive Herbert Diess “we are not afraid,” of Apple Car in an interview picked up by Reuters.
In December, the publication reported that the Cupertino tech giant may have advanced enough to mass-produce a vehicle in 2024, helped by cost cuts in battery technology.
“Still, we are not afraid” – Volkswagen CEO on Apple Car
Apple has been long rumored to have a self-driving electric car in the works. But, rumors have been heating up in the past several months. Recent reports suggest Apple is looking to turn Project Titan into a tangible product by partnering with an existing car producer. However, despite Apple being the top player in its industry, Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess does not believe Apple will risk the business of existing car producers.
“The car industry is not a typical tech-sector that you could take over at a single stroke,” Diess was quoted as saying in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, picked up by Reuters. “Apple will not manage that overnight,” he added.
Though Diess is not concerned about the potential risk Apple could pose to car producers in the future, he has been welcomed companies like Apple that could shake up the auto industry with innovation. In December, he said, “We look forward to new competitors who will certainly accelerate the transformation of our industry and bring in new skills.”
Despite Diess’s unbothered stance on Apple’s potential entry into the car market, the tech giant still considers Volkswagen as a potential partner to work with on the Apple Car, according to a note to investors at Wedbush. VW and Hyundai were the top choices of car producers for Apple, but it is reportedly looking into other options as well.
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