Apple Targets 2024 for Production of Passenger Vehicle With ‘Next Level’ Battery Tech [Report]

Apple is targeting 2024 to begin production of a passenger vehicle with ‘next level’ battery technology, according to a new report from Reuters.

The company’s automotive efforts, know as Project Titan’, started in 2014. Apple initially wanted to design its own vehicle; however, in 2016 it scaled back its car plans resulting in hundreds of job cuts and a new direction for the project that didn’t involve building an actual vehicle.

In 2018, Doug Field, the former head of Telsa Model 3 production, returned to Apple and began working on Project Titan. Since then Apple has progressed enough that it once again aims to build a vehicle for consumers.

Apple’s goal of building a personal vehicle for the mass market contrasts with rivals such as Alphabet Inc’s Waymo, which has built robo-taxis to carry passengers for a driverless ride-hailing service. Central to Apple’s strategy is a new battery design that could “radically” reduce the cost of batteries and increase the vehicle’s range, according to a third person who has seen Apple’s battery design.

Apple will purportedly use a unique ‘monocell’ design for its battery, freeing up space inside the battery pack by eliminating pouches and modules that hold battery materials.

It’s unclear who would assemble an Apple-branded car; however, sources say the company will likely rely on a third party partner for manufacturing. Two source also warned the pandemic could delay the start of production into 2025 or beyond.

More details in the full report linked below…

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[Concept]