Mercedes Chief Laughs at Apple's Rumored Self-Driving E-Car

[Victorious Secret]

 

 

Its not surprising to see that MBs head would have such comments against Apples plan to make a car, because Apples choice is crazy. The automotive industry runs off razor thin margins and is brutally competitive in a way that Apple has never had to put up with before; getting people to spend 700 on a phone is one thing. 70,000 on a car requires a little bit more than just the badge. 

 

The industry has also been unkind to recent startups in the sector, Tesla is the only that one brute forced its way to being very relevant. What I do see is that Apple is determined to make Project Titan a thing. Either it will be a fantastic failure, or fantastic. With the amount of money they are dumping into this, with employees and engineers and everything else, they're taking it seriously so say the least. 

To Mercedes, since I like you guys, don't let hubris get in your way. You know the last company that questioned the ability of a PC maker to make phones? Palm. They don't exist anymore. The other company that dropped the ball on the product they themselves created? Kodak and the digital camera. Go see how well Kodak is doing. 

 

I'd be wary and take it seriously, if I were them. Apple is a company, if they wanted to, could straight up buy these automakers and enter the field that way. I'd like to think their current plan has a little more thought and care. 

 

“If there were a rumor that Mercedes or Daimler planned to start building smartphones then they [Apple] would not be sleepless at night. And the same applies to me,” he told Australia's motoring.com.au.

 

Zetsche thus swatted down a week’s worth of feverish speculation that Apple was about to build a self-driving electric car. Rumor-mongers cite Apple’s recent hiring binge among car technology companies like Tesla and A123, the battery company.

Tesla and A123 are known more for their electric-drive technology than for self-driving savvy, but the theory is that Apple, formerly known as “Apple Computer,” would naturally gravitate to the software side of things.

 

Apple does have the wherewithal to make cars. Its market capitalization—the value of all its shares—today stands at US $766 billion, more than any other publicly traded company. At the end of 2014 it had $178 billion in cash, enough to buy both GM (market cap: $60 billion) and Daimler ($104 billion). If Apple threw in some stock, as well, it could buy every big car maker in the world.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/self-driving/mercedes-chief-laughs-at-apples-rumored-selfdriving-ecar?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IeeeSpectrum+%28IEEE+Spectrum%29

 

[RevoltTrain]

That picture

[Imabigmac]

They laugh now, well just see then... 

 

I bet IDM was laughing when at the original apple computers. 

[wyattzx]

Holy... That man right there? That is the definition of dapper. If I pass go, I expect to see him at my door by tomorrow.

[dadasmithywinkle]

 

-snip-

 

Benz is worth $24B. Apple is worth $750B. Derp. They could eat the entire auto insdustry for breakfast.

[Mr.Jackson]

Palm and Kodak.. how about Western Union? History is full of examples of big-shot idiots.

 

I hope for the sake of tech, that Apple follows through and is successfull.

[SeanAngelo]

he wont be laughing when Apple decides to buy Mercedes Benz 

[Imabigmac]

Holy... That man right there? That is the definition of dapper. If I pass go, I expect to see him at my door by tomorrow.

monopoly....

[swifty7]

hot damn!!! He looks exactly like the monopoly guy, all he needs is the hat and monocle.  Somebody should photoshop it.

[Toddwjp]

Benz is worth $24B. Apple is worth $750B. Derp. They could eat the entire auto insdustry for breakfast.

 

true but i think that shows exactly why the MB chief is laughing,

[techswede]

His face makes me want to trade in my golf for another benz. 

[dadasmithywinkle]

His face makes me want to trade in my golf for another benz. 

What year is your golf?

[techswede]

What year is your golf?

08

[dadasmithywinkle]

08

Y U NO R32 Bruh

[techswede]

Y U NO R32 Bruh

BCUZ I IZ NO RELLY A VEE DUB LAD BRUV.

+ it's easier to live with a wagon.. I swear on me mum

[dadasmithywinkle]

BCUZ I IZ NO RELLY A VEE DUB LAD BRUV.

+ it's easier to live with a wagon.. I swear on me mum

Why you no Jetta SportWagen m9?

[techswede]

Why you no Jetta SportWagen m9?

Same thing different name m10 (Golf variant in civilized countries)

[dadasmithywinkle]

Same thing different name m10 (Golf variant in civilized countries)

It's an evolution of the Jetta, though. 

[rashdanml]

I bet IDM was laughing when at the original apple computers. 

IBM? Yeah, they're not going anywhere anytime soon. 

[Real_PhillBert]

Benz is worth $24B. Apple is worth $750B. Derp. They could eat the entire auto insdustry for breakfast.

You missed the point completely.

 

Apple is accustomed to running off of enormous margins and fairly limited competition. If they were to enter the auto industry, where margins are a ton tighter and competition is much stiffer it will be rude awakening for them. I tend to agree with this.

[techswede]

It's an evolution of the Jetta, though. 

Around here it's just a lengthened golf. The jetta is simply the sedan.

[dadasmithywinkle]

Around here it's just a lengthened golf. The jetta is simply the sedan.

It's a sedan here too, but the sportwagen has transitioned from a Jetta to a Golf, at least in this market.

 

2004 Jetta, SportWagen, Golf:

 

And then the 2015 variants of the three:

[Matthias2556]

i actually really hope apple succeeds with this. would be pretty cool to have a tech company have a monopoly over several industries like this, and it's the first really innovative move they've taken in a while

[CtW]

That is the most German man I have ever seen.

[Mattr567]

Za German!

 

That chief is the most German looking German I've ever seen.

His expression is perfect.