Apple to focus on self-driving cars and not electric cars: Report

We’ve been hearing about Apple’s ambitious plans to build an electric vehicle, but now what is known as its Project Titan could be shifting focus on self-driving cars, according to BloomBerg. However, this doesn’t mean the company has no plans to build an electric car. The report adds that the company has hired Dan Dodge, former CEO of BackBerry-acquired QNX and ex-head of BlackBerry Ltd.’s automotive software division. He will be directly reporting to Bob Mansfield, who leads Titan and directly reports to Tim Cook. “Mansfield answers directly to Cook, unlike his predecessor Steve Zadesky, who reported to hardware chief Dan Riccio, who in turn reported to Cook. Mansfield’s division comprises three pillars led by Apple veterans: a software team under John Wright; a sensors group headed by Benjamin Lyon; and a unit of hardware engineers led by D.J. Novotney,” adds the report. The report further hints at how Apple could partner with or acquire a car maker than build a car by itself. The company has hundreds of engineers working on the design and the previous report suggested that the Titan car wont make it to roads until 2021. Apple is also reportedly opening a research and development center near QNX’s headquarters in the Ottawa suburb. This will give it access to the town’s pool of automotive software talent. “Any car Apple builds would likely be a ‘proof of concept’ rather than an upstart Tesla competitor,” points out TheNextWeb. Apple isn’t new to building software around cars. We’ve earlier seen CarPlay and how it has helped make cars smarter. Also, the company will then be head on head with its arch-rival Google who has been working on its autonomous car.