Apple just dropped its biggest HINT about a SMART CAR yet

 

Apple just dropped its biggest hint about a Smart Car yet

APPLE CEO Tim Cook claims the auto industry is about to face a "massive change."

 

Apple CEO Tim Cook has dropped a hint about his firm's plans for the auto industry.

Tim Cook told attendees at the Wall Street Journal's live conference in California that the car industry is braced for "massive change."

When pressed about Apple's smart car ambitions Cook joked with the presenter: "Did you have too much to drink?"

 

Tim Cook speaking at Wall Street Journal Live

The Apple CEO went on to add: "When I look at the automobile, what I see is that software becomes an increasingly important part of the car of the future.

"You see that autonomous driving becomes much more important."

Although adoption is slow, Apple has already made a move to commandeer car dashboards with its onboard computer system - CarPlay.

The in-dash experience brings your iPhone's calls, music and even voice assistant Siri to your vehicle's in-built infotainment system.

 

Mr Cook told attendees at the WSJDLive event: "It will seem like there will be massive change in that industry, massive change." 

Doing his best to duck any specifics on smart cars and Apple's future plans, Mr Cook cryptically added: "We look at a lot of things.

"Our model is to reduce that list to a few. We will see what we do in the future.

"I do think that industry is at an inflection point for massive change, not just evolutionary change.”

 

Apple CarPlay can already be found in Mercedes

In recent months Apple has been hard at work hiring prominent figures from the car industry. 

New hires Vinay Palakkode and Megan McClain bring considerable knowledge of automation to the Apple stable. 

With all the signs pointing to Apple moving into this lucrative industry, the Cupertino firm is not without its share of detractors.

Outspoken billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk previously went on record to dismiss Apple's plans:

"No, seriously: It's good that Apple is moving and investing in this direction. But cars are very complex compared to phones or smartwatches.

"You can't just go to a supplier like Foxconn [the Taiwanese electronics company that manufactures iPads and iPhones for Apple] and say: Build me a car."

 

Is this where Apple is building its smart car?