The Apple Car Has a History

Source Apple Insider 

"Apple Car" Timeline

In December 2020, it was confirmed that Apple is indeed still working to launch a car, and right now, plans to release a vehicle in three to six years. Reuters has said Apple is aiming for 2024, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes a car won't launch until 2025 to 2027 at the earliest.

2021

NOVEMBER

According to multiple sources, reports in late 2021 indicate that Apple could officially announce the car project in 2022 and launch it by 2025.

SEPTEMBER

Apple authorized to use 69 test vehicles and 114 pilots

Kevin Lynch takes over a lead executive after Field's departure
Arizona vehicle testing facility
Ford poaches Doug Field 

AUGUST

Apple Expands Fleet of Self-Driving Cars

JULY

Apple Watch Chief Kevin Lynch to Work on Apple Car Development

Apple Reportedly Aiming to Manufacture Apple Car Batteries in the United States

JUNE

Apple Hires Self-Driving Car Startup Founder and Former BMW Exec Ulrich Kranz

Apple in 'Early-Stage' Talks With Chinese EV Battery Makers for Apple Car

Apple Car Project Loses 'Several' Top Managers

MAY

Apple Seen in Vehicle Supply Chains, but It May Be Exploring Taxi Service or Car Platform Instead

Windshield could be used for AR display

Vibrations could be used to help find lost items under the seat

APRIL

Analyst says Apple is expected to share information about "Apple Car" by summer 2021

LG and Magna partnership could win "Apple Car" contract.

MARCH

Foxconn could assemble "Apple Car"

FEBRUARY

• Nissan shows interest in manufacturing "Apple Car"
• Apple and Kia discussions put on hold despite nearing a deal
• "Apple Car" won't have a steering wheel says analyst
• Dr. Manfred Harrer, former head of Porsche's Cayenne joins Apple

JANUARY

• Apple reportedly requested 100,000 cars be produced in $3.6 billion deal
• Hyundai confirms being in talks with Apple
• Apple reportedly in talks with Hyundai to manufacture "Apple Car" using subsidiary Kia
• Report says don't expect "Apple Car" for another five to seven years

2020

DECEMBER

• Apple reportedly producing car with "next level" battery technology
• Supply chain reports say "Apple Car" could launch in September 2021
• Apple rumored to be working with TSMC on processors for the "Apple Car"
• John Giannandrea moved to oversee "Project Titan"

SEPTEMBER

• Apple reports how LiDAR systems capture Apple Maps data

JUNE

• NHTSA introduces voluntary program for companies to report where self-driving cars are being tested called AV TEST

MAY

• Apple to retain "bumper to bumper" control of the "Apple Car" says Morgan Stanley
• Apple researching use of Tesla-style induction motor according to a new patent

FEBRUARY

• Apple reports 23 self-driving vehicles to the DMV

2019

DECEMBER

• Apple representatives ask the federal court to closely monitor the former employees accused of stealing trade secrets

JULY

• Steve MacManus, auto interior export formerly with Tesla joins Apple

JUNE

• Apple acquires Drive.ai

MAY

• Report claims Apple building multiple large drive rooms in California for working on improving battery technology

APRIL

• Apple reports 69 self-driving vehicles to the DMV
• Apple reportedly in talks with suppliers for LiDAR sensors destined for "Project Titan"

MARCH

• Michael Schwekutsch, former VP of engineering at Tesla joins Apple
• Tim Cook says future products will "blow you away" as company is "rolling the dice"

FEBRUARY

• German report says "Apple Car" will be a van
• DMV report shows Apple's self-driving system was worst-performing in terms of disengagements, or drivers assuming control

JANUARY

• Jizhong Chen arrested for alleged theft of trade secrets
• 200 employees shifted or laid off from "Project Titan"
• Alexander Hitzinger leaves Apple for Volkswagen

2018

DECEMBER

• Andrew Kim, former senior designer at Tesla joins Apple

NOVEMBER

• Apple reports 72 self-driving vehicles to the DMV

AUGUST

• First registered car accident involving Apple's self-driving program, other driver at fault
• Report says Apple hired 46 people from Tesla throughout 2018
• Doug Field, former VP of Mac hardware who joined Tesla returns to Apple

JULY

• Xiaolang Zhang, former "Project Titan" compute team member arrested for alleged theft of trade secrets
• Apple reports 66 self-driving vehicles to the DMV

JUNE

• Jamie Waydo, former senior engineer at Waymo joins Apple

MAY

• PAIL shuttles linked to Volkswagen
• Apple reports 55 self-driving vehicles to the DMV

APRIL

• John Giannandrea, former Google AI chief joins Apple

MARCH

• Apple reports 45 self-driving vehicles to the DMV

JANUARY

• Apple reports 27 self-driving vehicles to the DMV, up from three

2017

DECEMBER

• Apple AI research director Ruslan Salakhutdinov spoke at the NIPS machine learning conference, mentions how camera-based recognition can detect objects obscured by rain and parked cars

NOVEMBER

• Apple releases research paper that explains LiDAR-based 3D object recognition
• Report says Apple leased a former Fiat Chrysler proving grounds in Surprise, Arizona

AUGUST

• 17 engineers specializing in braking, suspension, and other systems leave Apple for Zoox
• The hiring freeze on "Project Titan" ends
• Sensor testbed upgraded on vehicles with new LiDAR array, GPS, cameras, and other items
• Report says Apple partnered with an established automaker to create a self-driving service for employees called PAIL

JULY

• Claims suggest Apple partnered with China's CATL on automotive battery research

JUNE

• Report claims Apple partners with Hertz to test self-driving technology
• Tim Cook teases automotive initiatives calling it a "core technology" and "the mother of all AI projects"

APRIL

• Apple requests DMV alter protocols surrounding test reporting to minimize public exposure
• Cars owned by Apple were spotted with LiDAR sensors, radar arrays, and cameras
• Documents around Apple's self-driving vehicle leak, showing training details and use of a Logitech wheel and pedals for control
• Apple gains California DMV permit for testing on public roads

MARCH

• Reports say Apple was recruiting experts in computer vision and robotics for a research facility in Switzerland
• Chinese company Didi Chuxing set up AI lab in Mountain View, California

JANUARY

• Apple VP Lisa Jackson included in US Department of Transportation advisory committee for self-driving vehicles
• Chris Lattner, Swift creator at Apple leaves for Tesla

2016

DECEMBER

• Alaxander Hitzinger, former technical director of the Porsche LMP1 project joins Apple

NOVEMBER

• Apple requests a policy update to the NHTSA to grant newcomers the same opportunities as established manufacturers for public road testing

OCTOBER

• Reports suggest that "Apple Car" as a vehicle had stalled as the company focuses on features for existing vehicles
• Apple pushes project to prove the practicality of a self-driving feature by late 2017
• "Hundreds" reported having been fired or quit the car project

AUGUST

• Apple fires dozens of employees as part of "Project Titan" reboot
• Bart Nabbe, computer vision expert at Apple leaves for Faraday Future

JULY

• Dan Dodge, former CEO of BlackBerry owned QNX joins Apple
• Bob Mansfield takes over as head of "Project Titan"

MAY

• Apple talks to firms about car charging solutions
• Apple invests $1 billion in Chinese company Didi Chuxing
• Apple seeks an 800,000 square-foot plot in San Fransisco Bay
• Kurt Adelberger, former Google researcher joins Apple

APRIL

• Kevin Harvey, former CNC machine shop supervisor for Andretti Autosport joins Apple
• David Masiukiewicz, former R&D hardware prototyping CNC programmer at Tesla joins Apple
• Chris Porritt, former VP of vehicle engineering at Tesla joins Apple
• Report says Apple has 15 to 20 employees from German auto industry working in a secret car lab in Berlin
• Report says Apple using names from Greek mythology to refer to buildings in Sunnyvale, possible connection to "Project Titan"

MARCH

• Apple leased a 96,000 square-foot warehouse in Sunnyvale that was previously used for bottling Pepsi

FEBRUARY

• Apple is awarded a building permit for a 9,600 square-foot space and another building for an "auto testing center"
• A noise complaint about motor noises in an Apple-owned Sunnyvale property is filed

JANUARY

• Jony Ive expressed displeasure at "Project Titan" causing a hiring freeze
• Steve Zadesky leaves Apple and "Project Titan"
• Ottawa, Canada office leased by Apple near BlackBerry automotive software offices
• Apple acquires new domain names related to "Apple Car"

2015

NOVEMBER

• Ronan O Braonain, former BMW software engineer joins Apple

OCTOBER

• Jonathan Cohen, former director of Nvidia CUDA Libraries and Software Solutions joins Apple
• Mission Motors closes due to losing top talent to Apple
• Elon Musk says Apple is a "Tesla Graveyard"

SEPTEMBER

• Apple lawyers met with the California DMV
• Reports suggest Apple's poaching of Tesla employees cause delay of Model 3
• Other hires related to self-driving car algorithms occur

AUGUST

• Jamie Carlson, former Tesla senior engineer joins Apple
• Apple acquires 43-acre plot in San Jose
• Apple seeks 2,100-acre property near San Fransisco

MARCH

• SixtyEight Research building discovered to have ties to Apple

FEBRUARY

• Vans with mysterious equipment owned by Apple seen driving in California
• Report claims Steve Zadesky was running "Project Titan"

2014

NOVEMBER

• Vehicle focused "Project Titan" leaks
• SixtyEight Research licensed as foreign corporation in California
• Johann Jungwirth, former Mercedes-Benz R&D joins Apple

MARCH

• SixtyEight Research registered

Source Apple Insider