Why tech in cars has stalled

Apple and Tesla have had difficulty fulfilling their promise to revolutionise the way we drive, writes Andrew Griffin. So how long will we have to wait for the vehicles of the future?

- Andrew Griffin

Roughly 10 years ago, Apple believed it could build the best car ever made; better even than the futuristic-at-the-time Tesla Model S. In recent weeks, that dream was seemingly over following reports that indicated Apple was shutting down its car project. Tesla’s future was in question, too, as sales and its share price slid.

Apple wanted to build a car that could drive itself. Owners could instead focus on the wide-ranging infotainment systems that would presumably be built in. Apple has already been working on those: its CarPlay system, like competitor Android Auto, is now integrated into most new cars and has led to a revolution in car infotainment.

Apple’s car was supposed to be a competitor to Tesla – but Apple might be happy not to be competing in that market. In the last three months, Tesla shares have plunged more than a third, and the company announced last week that it has sold far fewer cars than it had hoped to. At the same time, Tesla has been looking to bring back some of the excitement with new models, including the Cybertruck, introduced as a concept in 2019 and starting to arrive with customers in recent months. As those first drivers have received them, excitement has flourished but so has controversy – early recipients have complained about the technology inside the car, and critics say the sharp edges and large design of the truck’s outside mean that it is unsafe for other road users.