Apple Inc. has dropped its decade-long effort to build an electric self-driving car. Jeff Williams, Chief Operating Officer, and Kevin Lynch, a vice president of technology who headed the car project at the Cupertino-based tech major, have made the announcement internally, Bloomberg reported.
There is speculation that the project, codenamed Project Titan, was jettisoned so Apple can intensify focus on its other big bets, including generative AI and mixed-reality headsets.
The electrification of vehicles, accompanied by a growing demand for advanced safety features, has meant higher integration of components, and software will define the next phase of growth for tier 1 suppliers (companies that supply parts or systems directly to original equipment manufacturers — or carmakers — in the automotive industry).
With the shift to electrics, computing and software are now at the heart of the vehicle, with a central processor managing the battery, running the electric motors and generators, and other vital systems.
