The matter really turns on the rate of progress of Tesla technology vs. Apple (or anyone else).
Tesla's lead is large enough that the established auto companies still (as far as I've seen) don't have compelling strategies for closing the gap.
As a technology company, Apple comes at the issue from a different perspective, and arguably, one with much more overlap to Musk, et al.
Batteries are notoriously difficult to innovate. We've seen story after story for more than an decade about breakthrough battery tech that doesn't or hasn't materialized, but the lead that Tesla has built has been by making a series of more-or-less incremental improvements to their design, coupled with the pricing benefits that come with the highest volume.
Do you believe that Apple has a battery technology that Tesla either is not aware of, or, is working on but not succeeded yet, or, has taken a look at and dismissed?
As others have pointed out (and some disagreed with), Apple has capital, supply-chain expertise, patience, and a dogmatic focus on the whole experience. In a realm where technology is increasingly a driver of the experience (no pun intended), cars start to make some sense.
But the battery claim... I just can't imagine a universe where Tesla isn't aware of the same hard-science. I'd love to be surprised though.
Apple has billions of data points about batteries with iPhones, Macbooks, iPads, etc..... Obvious those are not used in the same manner car batteries are, but still.
I'd say there's a slim possibility.
But clearly it's a tough nut to crack because there hasn't really been much progress despite the necessity/urgency.
Tesla's lead is large enough that the established auto companies still (as far as I've seen) don't have compelling strategies for closing the gap.
As a technology company, Apple comes at the issue from a different perspective, and arguably, one with much more overlap to Musk, et al.
Batteries are notoriously difficult to innovate. We've seen story after story for more than an decade about breakthrough battery tech that doesn't or hasn't materialized, but the lead that Tesla has built has been by making a series of more-or-less incremental improvements to their design, coupled with the pricing benefits that come with the highest volume.
Do you believe that Apple has a battery technology that Tesla either is not aware of, or, is working on but not succeeded yet, or, has taken a look at and dismissed?