Apple car might not be innovative, but it is good for the industry!
Tags: Technology, Auto, Tesla, Cars, Apple

Cars and Technology

Apple, one of the biggest tech company is entering into Car manufacturing and creating a new car — rumored Apple Car — but the biggest question is, what will change with this move?

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Apple transformed the landscape of …

Personal Computers

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By launching Apple 2 computer, it did change the personal computer industry. Until then, computers are not really a household item, but with Apple 2, the mindset changed. Common people could get hold of a computer, at their homes. More and more people started to use computers because of this, that accelerated the technology. All this happened in the 80s, much before Internet really took off. This also gave rise to Apple, as a company, to grow from the garage to a major player in the tech industry.

Music Industry

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Until the launch of iPod, it is unthinkable to have millions of albums in a small device. People used to buy cassettes, CDs, that will store 10–20 songs on it. Access to music was not easy. With iPod, you were able to purchase content and store millions of songs on a small device. Also, the design of the device is a game changer, much different from the walkman devices and CD players. This changed the music industry and the way how people listen to music.

Mobile phones

Apple launched iPhone in 2007. Most of the phones today, are built on the foundational concepts introduced with iPhone. Features like multi-touch, virtual keyboard, App Store, etc. made mobile phones a mainstream device.

This is a game-changer, not just for tech, but for the way of life. Whether it is good or bad, is a different debate, but no one can disagree that mobile phones became a part of life now and iPhone triggered the change.

After the launch of iPhone, most of the mobile phone companies followed the same concepts, giving birth to new companies and killing existing companies that resisted change.

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Voice Assistants — With Siri

and more…

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Is this game-changing for cars?

Probably not! When the auto industry is pretty stagnant, releasing new cars year over year, with non-significant updates, Tesla entered the space with the goal to accelerate electric cars. Even without considering electric or gas powered as a feature, Tesla changed how people look at cars. It made ways for adding technology into cars. With transformative design, minimalist interior and the use of technology to control the car, it doesn’t feel like a traditional car any more. With self-driving technology, it really transformed how cars are being driven.

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After the launch of Tesla, other traditional car manufacturers even though ignore it for a while, they could not continue that for a long time. They started to play catch-up game now and in terms of some features, they are years behind Tesla. This is really a game-changing product and transformed auto industry and cars in a way.

What can Apple really add to this?

When Tesla launched, people compared Tesla to Apple, as Tesla did to auto industry what Apple could do to tech industry. Also, comparing Elon Musk to Steve Jobs, given the minds behind these game-changing companies. After this, there are multiple new companies, like Nicola, Rivian, Zoosk, etc. entering into this space and all the other traditional car companies started to change. Every major car company has an electric variant of the cars and interior/exterior design inclining towards the Tesla design.

Tesla also made the car buying process seamless. Who can forget hours of negotiations when buying a car? Also, it made repairs/maintenance easy, with its customer friendly features.

Given this, what can Apple car add to this already crowded segment? What new innovative features can Apple bring?

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Apple will definitely follow Tesla in the car buying process, where you can buy a car online, with transparent car pricing, no negotiations and easy customizations.

If Apple car becomes a hit, it pushes the traditional car manufacturers even further to become more customer friendly and making cars more seamless.

Multiple major players in the industry, like Tesla and Apple, will make other companies strive more for innovation. Both the companies being technology companies, advances in the car engines, battery technology, will increase the pace of electric cars and charging stations/technology.

When the charging time reduces to minutes and when there are electric charging stations everywhere, consumers buying electric cars will increase. Full self-driving is already there in Tesla, even though in the early stages, with Apple entering into this, full self-driving cars will become a norm.

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So, unlike other Apple innovations, that transformed few industries, Apple car might not be same. But, with Apple cars, it could accelerate the ongoing trend and innovation that Tesla fueled.