The much-rumored car project is reportedly still going ahead, but will be released later than previously thought, and without self-driving capabilities.
Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that Apple will launch a car in 2028, or two years later than previously thought.
One of the reasons for the delay, according to the sources, was a change in an earlier plan to actually deliver the car on highways in a self-driving manner. Instead, Apple will now reportedly only try to ship it with an automated driver assistance feature that ranks at Level 2 on the SAE scale of self-driving capabilities, or on par with systems offered by Tesla, General Motors and Ford.
Level 2 means that a car can drive independently under certain circumstances, but that supervision by the driver behind the wheel is required at all times. Level 3 is the first level at which a driver can take their eyes off the road, albeit only for short periods. Mercedes-Benz is the only automaker to offer such a system, although the Mercedes system, known as Drive Pilot, has strict conditions, including a very limited number of highways on which it can operate.
Apple previously planned to develop a car that would allow the driver to watch a video or surf the Internet while driving on the highway, and then give the driver enough time to regain control when necessary. Such capabilities would place the car at level 4 on the SAE scale of self-driving capabilities.
The ultimate goal is level 5, a car that can match the capabilities of a human. According to Bloomberg, Apple had originally planned this level and even envisioned a car without a steering wheel and pedals. Apple also reportedly spent time working on a remote command center that could take control of a vehicle if it got stuck.
Apple remains quiet about plans regarding the car project, also known as Project Titan. The company has filed multiple patents related to cars and driving in recent years and has hired several automotive industry veterans.
Apple is not the only technology company wanting to enter the automotive industry. Waymo, owned by Alphabet Inc., is expanding its One robotaxi service to more cities, and Baidu is rapidly expanding its own robotaxi service in China. Sony also partnered with Honda to launch the Afeela brand, whose vehicles are expected to offer high levels of self-driving capabilities.