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Taiwanese publication Digitimes, known for its mixed track record when it comes to sharing news about industry plans related to Apple and more, is reporting Apple’s self-driving car plans involve local company and existing supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).
According to a Google Translate of the story, Digitimes says “after adding the Mac series M1 chips, TSMC is also currently cooperating with Apple on self-driving chips.”
It’s worth noting TSMC is already a supplier for Tesla, helping develop self-driving chips for the latter.
The report says according to the component industry, the “Apple Car model is similar to Tesla”. Numerous companies have already started to send component samples to Apple, or are in negotiations and these supply chain partners will be slowly announced in 2021.
Apple’s secretive ‘Project Titan’ recently saw its self-driving car efforts see a shakeup, as Bloomberg reported yesterday it is now led by the company’s artificial intelligence chief, John Giannandrea. It’s expected that Apple’s autonomous car plans are for a system designed for other automakers to use, and not to develop a car on its own.
Digitimes says Apple is also reportedly planning to establish a factory in the United States, while Apple Car plans are expected to debut around 2024-2025.
Recently, CNBC’s Jim Cramer said young investors see Tesla CEO Elon Musk as the next Steve Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple, seen as a product visionary.
