At the Code Conference, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk took to the stage to talk about the autonomous car industry. Musk said that Google won't be a competitor with its self-driving car efforts, but that Apple will be in direct competition with Tesla with its oft-rumored car program:
Google's done a great job at showing the potential of autonomous transport, but they're not a car company. So they'd potentially license to other companies. I wouldn't say they're a competitor.
Apple, yeah, that'll be more direct.
However, Musk thinks that Apple will be too late to the market:
I think they should have embarked on this project sooner. I don't know… They don't share with me the details. I don't think they'll be volume production sooner than 2020. It's just a missed opportunity. There's a dozen car companies of significance in the world, the most any company has is approximately 10% market share. The sheer scale of automotive manufacturing, it's hard to appreciate until you see the plants.
Watch Musk's interview in its entirety here:
Reader comments
Elon Musk calls Apple's car initiative a 'missed opportunity'
Shut Up clown, maker of toys for the rich.
Well, you have to start somewhere. But the Model 3 starts at $35K for a 200 mile/charge rating.
It remains to be seen if even Tesla will be able to meet the demand for the Model 3. My issue with the "Apple will be too late" comment is that if I preordered a Model 3 in March? I MIGHT get it by the end of 2017. How is Apple late again? Oh, and this is rich... "However, according to Elon Musk, full production to fulfill expected demand [of the Model 3] could take up to 2020"
As much as I admire what Musk is doing, there is something about him that rubs me wrong. Maybe it is the intentional naming of his vehicles... (not in order of release)
Model S (Sedan)
Model ☰ (Or model 3, 3rd model - deliveries start LATE 2017. ORIGINALLY called the Model E, stylized as "☰")
Model X (SUV)
Model Y (Future planed 3 series but an SUV)
She what he/they did there? No? Sexy.
Cool. but I will stick with real established auto makers, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan.
Not sure how old you are, but I remember a kid in high school. We were all taking our savings and buying used Fords, Chevys, Hondas. He took his money and used it as a decent down payment on a Hyundai. We all laughed at him. "A Hyundai? HAHAHAHA!"
As our "superior" bran cars inevitably needed repair, he was still scooting along. If something came up on his car? Their warranty covered it.
My (long way to get to) point is this. Just because we considered Hyundai (and Kia) as jokes then, your post proved that is no longer the case. Same will likely be said about Tesla.
I'm 45 and I had my handful of American cars (JUNK), I will never buy American ever again, what makes Tesla any better, other than the overprice, Hyundai and Kia is the way to go today the best warranty and over all quality with an affordable price, let's see tesla do that, I doubt it.
You must be some K-pop fan. Hondas still generally outlive religion (and outscore all makes bar Toyota/Lexus in majority of reliability surveys/studies). No idea where you got the idea the Hyundais were more reliable. American cars are mostly junk though (the only good Fords aren't even made in the US anymore), so you're right on that.
I agree with you about Honda. I have a 2003 Pilot with 230,000 miles as my daily driver and it is still rolling strong. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere. Kia has improved over the years but I still don't see very many "older" Kia's or Hyundai's on the road. The funny thing is that the most "American made" car on the road is the Toyota Camry: https://www.cars.com/articles/the-2015-american-made-index-1420680649381/
How is Apple late compared to Tesla? Tesla has now released three different vehicles, the 3 will be the fourth and there's not even a hint of an Apple prototype being seen by the public yet. So yes, may very well be too late. I hope they're not but by the time they're up and running there will be a lot more electric competition.
He admits to not knowing what Apple's plans are. He admits that his own "for the masses" model (the 3) likely won't hit mainstream production capacity until? You guessed it. 2020. So he is trying to frame the story knowing full well that Apple will not comment. It is the perfect thing for him to do.
So what do you call Apple?
Wait!! You think the Rose Gold Apple iCar will be cheap?!
Apple is always late to the game. Apple is usually second or third. But... Apple doesn't release anything, anything, until it's ready and they know it'll hit the market hard. I think Apple is doing it right. They are taking their time. Doing it right. And will deliver a great product.
Sent from the iMore App
No. Apple dress it up.
AppleTV was a hobby remember and Siri was beta, and that’s straight from the horses mouth. They release it when they want. Explain that then.
Why? Because they were crap (and still are) - the AppleTV interface was horrendous for typing at the very least and Siri, well I must be speaking gobbledegook,
A possible future competitor saying something not good about another company?! Well thats just shocking
Sent from the iMore App
Reminds of me of the classic Steve Ballmer interview where he said the iPhone would never gain any significant traction in the marketplace.
Sent from the iMore App
The big difference here is Tesla is already established in the market. Sort of like apple and the iPhone. I am seriously thinking about a model 3 as my next purchase. I have 2 jeeps now and love them. But I would love something for running around that's MUCH better on gas. I guess the people who commented on American vehicles being JUNK never owned a Jeep. My 2011 JK unlimited has 200,000 on it and I all I replace is oil, gas, and wear items like brake pads, tires etc. No mechanical failures. Same with my 2015 patriot, NO issues to report. The same cannot be said for my Chev suburban....that IS JUNK.
That was very musky.