It’s make or break for the Apple iCar, as its release date is pushed back two years, and it aims for just Level 2+ autonomy at launch
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Apple’s efforts to create its own vehicle have reached a make-or-break moment, as the tech company’s executives lower their expectations and push back the project’s completion date in a final effort to give it achievable goals, according to a new report.
The project, often refereed to as the iCar (although Apple has never officially confirmed a name), has been in development for a decade and has suffered from numerous setbacks and challenges. Despite being the world’s largest technology company, Apple is finding that venturing into the automotive market is not as straightforward as it initially envisioned.
The company’s executives have pushed the completion date for the project back to 2028, two years later than the most recent release date, 2026, reports Bloomberg, citing sources who asked to remain anonymous.
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Read: Apple’s Electric iCar Could Be Delayed If It Doesn’t Find Partner, Analyst Says
The team has also dropped its hopes of offering a Level 4 autonomous system at launch. Instead, it will shoot for Level 2+ autonomy, which is more in line with what other automakers, like Tesla, can deliver. However, it is behind a pilot program by Mercedes, which plans to run Level 3 autonomous vehicles on public roads in California, where Apple is headquartered.
The tech company’s initial plan would have seen it release a vehicle that, under certain circumstances, can drive itself with no human oversight whatsoever. Now, the vehicle will only reportedly have an advanced driver assistance system, that can keep steer and control speed, as long as the driver maintains constant oversight over the proceedings. Apple maintains hope that it can eventually add Level 4 autonomous functions to the car, after it has been released.
More: What Could An Apple iCar’s Future Timeline Look Like?
Apple is in talks with manufacturing partners in Europe to discuss its new approach, which is seen as a make-or-break moment for the project. If the team cannot deliver on these reined-in ambitions, it may be closed down permanently.
The lowered expectations may be a problem for Apple, whether it can complete the project or not. If this report is correct, its vehicle will compete with others on styling and implementation alone, instead of introducing innovative tech, as it had originally hoped.
Note: This article includes speculative renders of an iCar that are not endorsed by Apple
