What Apple Car is
Apple Car refers to the widely reported vehicle-development project at Apple, known in reports by the internal codename “Project Titan”: according to years of reporting, the project began around 2014 with the goal of building an electric, self-driving car. Apple never formally confirmed or publicly discussed the project, and no Apple-branded car was ever released. According to a Reuters report on February 27, 2024, Apple canceled the project.
Status and reported history
- All information about the project comes from media reporting and sourced accounts; Apple never confirmed its existence, and reported goals, timelines and team sizes shifted repeatedly over the years.
- In February 2024, Reuters and other outlets reported that the project was canceled, with some resources shifting to generative AI work.
- There is therefore no official entry point for buying or using an Apple Car; Apple’s current car-related product is CarPlay, see the official CarPlay page.
Discussion in the show
In the “界面标准与长期一致性为什么重要” (why interface standards and long-term consistency matter) chapter of Weekly #002, while discussing how hard it is for Apple to ship new categories, Orange says “Apple Car went 10 years with 2,000 people and never shipped,” grouping it with Siri and Apple Vision as evidence that innovation is hard even for Apple. The “10 years, 2,000 people” figure is the participant relaying media reporting; the show does not verify the exact numbers or discuss the project in detail. See the Chinese transcript; an English transcript is not available.
Frequently asked questions
Was the Apple Car canceled?
According to Reuters on February 27, 2024, Apple canceled its car project after roughly a decade of development. Apple has issued no official statement.
Why was the Apple Car canceled?
Reporting says Apple shifted the project’s resources toward generative AI work; Apple has given no official reason, so details rest on media accounts.
What is Project Titan?
The internal codename for Apple’s car-development project used in media reports — the project commonly known as Apple Car. The codename likewise comes from reporting, not from any Apple confirmation.
Does Apple have any car-related products now?
Apple sells no car; its current car-related product is CarPlay, the feature that projects iPhone maps, audio and messaging onto a car’s screen. See the official CarPlay page.
Sources
- Reuters: Apple cancels electric car project, source says (2024-02-27)
- Wikipedia: Apple car project (secondary compilation of the project timeline and the Project Titan codename)
- Apple: CarPlay page