The Apple Car is little more than a rumour at present, but that doesn’t stop people having opinions about it.
Porsche CEO Oliver Blume says the car company has nothing to fear from Apple in the car business.
Speaking to German-language newspaper Westfalen-Blatt, Blume described how Apple couldn’t build a vehicle to rival Porsche.
“Can Apple build a comparable Porsche? No,” said the CEO. “Will Apple build a Porsche? No.”
However, Blume admitted that Porsche underestimated the capability of companies like Apple and Google in the vehicle space.
“I am impressed by the technology dynamics of these companies,” he explained. “We can only learn from them, and we have to look at our own expertise. Either we have it, or we have to build it.”
An Apple Car concept render
The Porsche boss also took an opportunity to snuff out rumours that the carmaker might invest in driverless technology.
According to Blume, self-driving cars are “as alluring as a Rolex for boiling eggs”, adding that people want to “drive a Porsche themselves”.
He explained how Porsche hopes to focus on sensible in-car technology, without turning the inside of a vehicle into a smartphone.
“It’s mostly about the right combination of usability and new technology,” said Blume. “Our cars are designed to connect meaningfully with the environment. An iPhone belongs in your pocket, not on the road.”
Take part in our poll:
(apester:569795558089e8dd05d295f8)
Related: Driverless Cars guide
Apple has been rumoured to be plotting an entry to the car space for months.
Rumours of the company’s plans for an electric car have persistently pointed to 2019 as a possible launch date. However, Apple has not publicly made comment on the matter of an Apple Car.
Despite Apple’s silence, a number of senior industry veterans have spoken out against the prospect of an Apple Car, including Bob Lutz, former GM and BMW exec, and Dan AKerson, retired CEO of GM.
But the response to Apple’s mooted car efforts haven’t all been negative; a senior Ford executive recently told TrustedReviews that he believes Apple can build a successful car business.
Check out the video below:
Do you think Porsche has anything to fear from companies like Apple or Google? Let us know in the comments.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
