Apple is working on the ‘holy grail’ option for its autonomous car: Tech giant wants to build a version with full self-driving capabilities and no human intervention AT ALL by 2025

Apple, which is rapidly losing ground to Tesla, GM, Ford and other automakers in the electric vehicle industry, is looking for a ‘holy grail’ alternative to its autonomous car by 2025: no human intervention.

The lack of human intervention, which is being pushed by the project’s new boss, Kevin Lynch (who previously led the company’s Apple Watch software efforts), will be something no automaker has yet achieved. bloombergThe one who first reported the news.

Tesla, for all the hype surrounding the Elon Musk-led company, has drawn criticism from consumers and lawmakers over its Autopilot system and how it works.

In August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a formal investigation into the system on 11 accidents – one fatal – that were feared to have occurred because the system had trouble finding parked emergency vehicles.

Apple cars could have no steering wheel or pedals, and passengers could sit side by side like in a limousine or bus

Other automakers, such as GM and its cruise unit, Ford and the new public Rivian, do not yet offer fully autonomous capabilities.

Waymo, which recently said it is helping UPS deliver packages for the holiday season, has demonstrated some autonomous capabilities, but still has human monitoring.

Before Lynch came to the car-related project in July, the $2 trillion tech giant had was following A path towards creating a car with limited self-driving capabilities as well as fully autonomous capabilities.

In September, Doug Field, who had been leading the team before Lynch arrived, left the Special Projects Group (also known as Project Titan) for a similar job at Ford.

Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with this thinking, reported that some engineers have accelerated the ambitious time to get the car on the road in four years, compared to the previously stated five to seven goal.

A fully self-driving car may have a completely different design and no steering wheel or pedals, Bloomberg said.

It could have an emergency takeover mode even though it doesn’t have a traditional steering wheel, the news outlet added.

Apple cars could have no steering wheel or pedals, and passengers could sit side by side like in a limousine or bus

The vehicle may also offer an option that passengers sit on the sides of the vehicle, as they do in the back of a limousine, or on some buses.

Bloomberg reported that being a fully self-driving car, it’s leaving behind the ‘holy grail’ in the automotive and tech industries, as the two sectors have pursued the prospect to varying degrees of success over the years.

In addition to the revolutionary redesign of the interior, Apple may also change the infotainment system of its electric vehicle, just like Tesla’s Model 3, by removing the traditional dashboard and featuring an iPad-like touch screen in the middle.

There is also the possibility of integrating other Apple products and services into the car.

If indeed Apple achieves this goal, it would be considered Level 5 (the highest level) autonomous driving, which could cause problems depending on the state.

“Some states require a human operator to keep one hand on the steering wheel at all times — a law that would hinder Level 3 through Level 5 ADS,” the NHTSA said in a statement. security document,

Level 5, which is considered full automation, indicates that the vehicle is ‘capable of performing all driving tasks under all conditions’, according to the NHTSA. ‘The driver may have the option to control the vehicle.’

Other levels of automation – Levels 1 through 4 – vary to some degree.

Level 3 is understood as ‘conditional automation’, where the driver is a requirement but not required to monitor the environment.

In contrast, Level 4 is referred to as ‘high automation’, where the vehicle is capable of all driving tasks under certain conditions.

In a note to investors, Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said the 2025 timeline is in line with his thinking and could be a key driver for the company over the next few years as the electric vehicle industry changes.

‘We continue to believe that when Apple enters the EV race, and it will add another $30+ per share [total addressable market] Ives wrote in the report that with a golden age of EV transformation on the horizon, Apple’s growth story will continue to grow over the next few years.

Earlier this month, Apple reportedly hired Christopher Moore, a former Tesla Autopilot software director who had disagreements with Musk.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.

In September, the company reportedly met with Toyota in Japan to build the car.

Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple has long been rumored to be working on a passenger vehicle.

In December 2020, Reuters reported that Apple’s car would include a new ‘breakthrough battery technology’ known as ‘Monocell’, which could reduce the cost and range of the vehicle before needing a recharge. can increase.

A Reuters source said the technology is ‘next level’, adding it is like ‘the first time you saw an iPhone.’

It is unclear who will assemble such a car, but analysts have said they expect the company to rely on a manufacturing partner to build the vehicle.

“We strongly believe that Apple finally announces an EV strategic partnership in 2021, which lays the groundwork for entering the rapidly growing EV sector,” analysts at Wedbush said in a statement.