Jeremy Clarkson thinks Apple should make a car and reviews the Daihatsu Materia

Why Doesn't Apple Make A Car?

(Possible) Reason:

Simply because a company shows a degree of 'prowess' in one consumer category, doesn't necessarily mean that they'll find success in another.

I have read many articles indicating they Apple plans to collaborate with a few manufactures in the future, but I think they'd be best to leave the actual engineering to the established auto makers.

We'll See...

— DaHarder (View Profile)

Posted on 1/6/2008 1:57:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I love Clarkson and I love Apple. Why not?

— SevorbeupstryIsBack (View Profile)

Posted on 1/6/2008 3:29:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Well, do you know how hard it is to really "break in" to the computer market when it's so completely controlled by Microsoft? Just about every business out there uses a Microsoft computer network. They also have quite a few brands--eight, to be exact, which (when 90% is divided by 8) leaves each brand with about the same market share as Apple. However, it's widely known that Dell makes up most business sales... so there you go. Apple is one of the most popular consumer computers.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 1/6/2008 8:49:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Here's the thing: manufacturing cars isn't where Apple specializes in. They make excellent computers, phones, and MP3 players, but that's completely different than auto-manufacturing.

— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/6/2008 10:31:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

How safe would it be to turn the steering wheel of a car completely to the right or left at the touch of a handset button? Not very safe, is it? Or accidently touching 4 buttons at the same time...well these are the reasons car copmanies all stick to steering wheels, gas and break pedals.

— SHOWTIME (View Profile)

Posted on 1/7/2008 9:56:37 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Actually…

Many Automotive (transportation) Design schools already propose their mid-level students to pick a product brand and design a car (usually a small city car) based on that brand. And most of the time, Apple is selected as one of these brands.

So the idea has already been conceptualized time and time again, and I believe if done to a profitable stage of design and engineering (a partner or sponsor perhaps), it could be quite feasible. So the idea is not as far fetched and far off as many of you think. It's all a matter of time and of course, the all mighty dollar.

— OBie (View Profile)

Posted on 1/8/2008 12:05:05 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Apple is a superior designer of computing hardware and software. Anyone with eyes and a brain can see that.

But what incentive is there for Apple to build a car? Apple profits far more by investing in their current product lines. Marginal profit on cars is low, and cost of entry into the automobile market is high. Let's continue to enjoy Apple's current products, thank you. They will expand into the living room, corporate computing, and wireless connectivity, all growing markets. Apple shouldn't waste their time on getting in the car business, which is growing only in a few regions (mainland Asia).

By the way, automakers are wasting their time developing more and more complex electronic crap for their cars. In addition to increasing the cost and weight of cars, they are setting themselves up for obsolescence. Look at the tens of thousands of GM OnStar customers who have expensive automobiles whose service has been cut off because the networks that supported the first generation analog OnStar services are dead. They can't upgrade even if they wanted to do so. Or how about those people who have the slow annoying navigation systems. How expensive is it to upgrade? It takes a very expensive trip to an electronics installation shop, when it should require merely sliding out the old unit and sliding in the new one.

Instead of attempting to lock the customer into expensive equipment that comes with a monthly fee, automakers should work to enable industry-standard interfaces. Design the car so that the consumer can easily buy, change, and upgrade their electronics. Use electronic protections to prevent system theft.

Current automobile electronics are set up to be expensive, if not impossible, to change or upgrade. Maybe Apple can help automakers develop a universal modular electronics system for cars. Left to themselves, automakers tend to offer crappy stereo systems, rubbish navigation systems, and horrid integration that requires major surgery to upgrade or change. It should be possible to buy a car pre-wired but without any speakers, amp, and control unit installed. After all, for many users, an iPod would be a better control center that they can take with them when they arrive at their destination -- all they really want is an amp and decent speakers. Alas, automobile manufacturers aren't even capable of designing a decent iPod dock.

— moto (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2008 1:30:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1