Experts are predicting that Apple are to take further steps into the car market and could one day become a rival for Tesla. The co-founder of The Mac Observer, Bryan Chaffin, said that he expects the company to start manufacturing their own vehicles at some point, rather than simply developing car-related software and hardware.
Chaffin said: “When I asked one of my sources flat out to put a percentage chance on Apple working on an actual car – rather than some kind of car-related technology – I was told, ‘80%’. When coupled with everything I’ve learned since, I’m personally closer to 100%.”
Apple recently poached a number of staff from Tesla, leading to speculation that the tech giant has new interest in the electric car business. Apple’s Mickey Drexler recently revealed that late CEO Steve Jobs had a strong interest in launching a so-called ‘i-Car’, but successor Tim Cook has not expressed similar wishes as yet.
Nonetheless, the company has launched motoring-related services including CarPlay and developed relationships with a number of automakers.
Recent rumors suggested that a refreshed MacBook Air would be launched within weeks.
