# Apple has no pipeline--except maybe cars, and that could be big **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 6, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-has-no-pipeline-except-maybe-cars-and-that-could-be-big/736848 "2015-11-06T22:21:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-has-no-pipeline-except-maybe-cars-and-that-could-be-big/736848/21 "2015-11-10T13:02:37Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > Like I said above, they could buy FCA without blinking and get all of the “car” stuff they need. Why would Apple, one of world’s leading brands align themselves with FCA? Why get into an uphill battle of fixing and rebuilding an ailing brand? Would it not make more sense to partner with a brand that builds cars that includes Seat, VW, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti? > [@jz78817](#): > > great. it’s also fucking _ugly._ Just a giant rectangle shoved in there. > > plus, it’s all touch/no tactile, just as the rest of the industry has backed away from that due to too many complaints. MyFord Touch got slammed for relying on touch-sensitive controls, so they’re back to buttons. The Volt had touch sensitive controls, and has gone back to mostly buttons for 2016. Irrelevant\*. Tesla managed to break away from the more traditional controls and people appear to accept it. Apple has the reputation of doing the same. \*I happen to agree with you. It’s an ugly design in an otherwise reasonably good looking interior. > [@jz78817](#): > > So do Cadillac, Lincoln, BMW, etc. You win. I didn’t realize I was under obligation to list every manufacturer making a fully digital dash display. > [@jz78817](#): > > this is the clueless part. Buying a car is not like buying a $600 iPhone (where you don’t even pay for the phone up front) or a $300 watch. > > these are meaningless generalities. How are others deficient in these areas, and how would Apple go about doing it better? Or is it just “Apple will do it better because Apple will do it better?” Wrong. It’s exactly like that for people who can afford these types of luxury brands. And yes, Apple has built a better mouse trap with many of their products. Nobody breathlessly awaits the next Samsung or LG phone. But people still line up the night before for a new Apple phone. Not because they have no other options but because they love Apple products. Is it reasonable? I don’t think so. But what you or I happen to think about it is irrelevant when millions of people think otherwise. To underscore my point, Teslas around here are ubiquitous. There is not a single day that I don’t see them on the roads. I wouldn’t have thought they’d gain such popularity in such a relatively short time but there is clearly a demand for them. I don’t see why there would not be a similar demand for Apple cars. > [@jz78817](#): > > The Tesla Roadster _is_ a Lotus, they built the body/chassis. Thanks, Captain Obvious. I know it’s the Lotus platform. I’d rather have the original car, okay? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-has-no-pipeline-except-maybe-cars-and-that-could-be-big/736848/22 "2015-11-10T14:40:15Z")
And here was me thinking that the new Apple TV with an App Store and a controller that is clearly going for gamers (as well as all the media consumption) was a very interesting development and clearly an attempt to get into a new market. I guess I must be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-has-no-pipeline-except-maybe-cars-and-that-could-be-big/736848/23 "2015-11-10T15:10:38Z")
But if Apple built a car, would you have to replace it every couple of years because the battery is not user replaceable, or bloated software updates reduced the top speed to 20 mph? ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-has-no-pipeline-except-maybe-cars-and-that-could-be-big/736848/24 "2015-11-10T17:09:04Z")
For the life of me I cannot understand why Google and Apple would want to be automotive OEMs. It just makes no sense. Mentioned by others already, the regulatory climate of the auto industry does not welcome new makers. It’s a battle not worth fighting unless you can offer something that nobody else can, which is why I think Tesla has been able to hang on. To align with or acquire an existing OEM, FCA for example, also seems like a bad idea to me because they’d rather supply to all OEMs. Google an Apple want their products in every car, and they’re already infiltrating the industry with infotainment operating systems. They (Apple especially) aren’t interested in developing powertrains. The very top paragraph of the article linked in the OP says what I think is the likely outcome. > [@](#): > > Rather, the risk is that Apple and Google would turn the carmakers into mere hardware makers — and hog the profit. They will continue to supply their product, using it to collect Big Data, which only they can handle and analyze. That will mean they own it. And that will mean they drive the future of automotive technology. But it’s best for them if you still have the option buy a Ford, Chevy, Honda, Nissan, Tesla, whatever and no matter what choice you make, you’re getting their technology. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-has-no-pipeline-except-maybe-cars-and-that-could-be-big/736848/25 "2015-11-10T17:48:20Z")
I can sort of see how they would logically “back into” the position of considering becoming auto manufacturers: • Gee, we could and should make the software that would enable cars to drive themselves based on GPS positioning, maps, information on other drivers and traffic conditions in the area, visual and other sensory input such as a human driver would have, and algorithms that only a superior software company like us can write. •Hmm, we need to infiltrate the entire acceleration and braking and steering system including sensory devices like those used to detect slipping when braking. The clumsy and/or closed-system environments in existing autos don’t readily lend themselves to us just sticking some leads on or attaching some afterthought doohickeys; ideally the hardware needs to be designed from the ground up with our software controls in mind. Kinda like the Mac and the MacOS that runs on it. • Hmm, the switchover from fossil fuels to electric power is already opening some space for a reconsideration of how to “do car”… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-has-no-pipeline-except-maybe-cars-and-that-could-be-big/736848/26 "2015-11-10T21:32:01Z")
I agree with **Barkis is Willin’** ; it makes no sense for Apple to turn into an auto manufacturer when instead it can supply its technology to any and all existing auto manufacturers. Microsoft already does this, with its Windows Embedded Automotive OS. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-has-no-pipeline-except-maybe-cars-and-that-could-be-big/736848/27 "2015-11-11T17:00:28Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > The clumsy and/or closed-system environments in existing autos don’t readily lend themselves to us just sticking some leads on or attaching some afterthought doohickeys; ideally the hardware needs to be designed from the ground up with our software controls in mind. Actually, automotive Controller Area Network (CAN) does allow you to just plug in and communicate with the system. Add your doohickey to the CAN bus and voila, you’ve got all the sensory input you need. You don’t need to rebuild the brake system because you can just command it to give you 0.2G deceleration as needed. And every OEM uses some form of CAN, so Apple’s and Google’s tech would be easily interchangeable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-has-no-pipeline-except-maybe-cars-and-that-could-be-big/736848.md?page=1)