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The Apple EV Car is Dead · Elon Musk Podcast

• 0:01
  Hey everybody, welcome back to the Elon Musk Podcast.
• 0:05
  This is a show where we discuss the critical Crossroads, The
• 0:08
  Shape, SpaceX, Tesla X, The Boring Company, and Neuralink,
• 0:13
  and I'm your host, Will Walden. If you want uninterrupted
• 0:17
  episodes of the Elon Musk podcast, please go to
• 0:20
  clubelon.supercast.com to find out how there's a link in the
• 0:26
  show notes Apple has officially halted the development of its
• 0:29
  ambitious electric car project. Now Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla,
• 0:33
  cryptically commented on this with two emojis on the social
• 0:37
  media platform X, previously known as Twitter.
• 0:40
  Now, this secession of work marks the end of a significant
• 0:44
  venture for Apple, with Musk's response opening up various
• 0:48
  interpretations of his stance on the matter.
• 0:50
  Now, Musk's post consisted of a salute emoji followed by a
• 0:54
  cigarette emoji, sparking widespread speculation about his
• 0:57
  intentions. The salute could be interpreted
• 1:00
  as a respectful nod to Apple's efforts in the electric vehicle
• 1:03
  space or a farewell to the discontinued project.
• 1:08
  Well, a cigarette emoji might suggest a moment of relief or a
• 1:11
  subtle indication of Musk's prior skepticism regarding the
• 1:15
  feasibility of such an ambitious endeavor by Apple.
• 1:18
  And the discontinuation of the so-called Project Titan by Apple
• 1:23
  implies A strategic shift within the company, with resources
• 1:27
  being relocated to other areas, particularly artificial
• 1:30
  intelligence. Now the pivot suggests that
• 1:33
  Apple is reassessing its priorities and potential growth
• 1:36
  areas, moving away from the highly competitive and
• 1:38
  technically challenging electric vehicle market.
• 1:41
  And many of the engineers and designers who were part of the
• 1:44
  autonomous car project are expected to join Apple's
• 1:47
  artificial intelligence division under the leadership of
• 1:50
  executive John Gianaria. This transition highlights
• 1:54
  Apple's increasing focus on generative AIA field that is
• 1:58
  rapidly gaining importance across the tech industry.
• 2:01
  It's been rumoured that some members of the now defunct car
• 2:05
  project team may face layoffs, though specific numbers remain
• 2:09
  undisclosed. This development could lead to
• 2:11
  talent migration within the tech industry, with companies like
• 2:14
  Tesla potentially standing to gain from the availability of
• 2:17
  experienced engineers and designers from Apple.
• 2:20
  And Musk's reaction on X consisting solely of those two
• 2:23
  emojis shows that he has a very unique communication style known
• 2:29
  for its brevity and open endedness, and his minimalistic
• 2:32
  approach leaves much to interpretation.
• 2:35
  Fitting mux mux Edit this out Fitting Musk's reputation for
• 2:39
  engaging with significant industry news in a cryptic or
• 2:42
  indirect manner. Now the decision to stop work on
• 2:46
  the Apple car, a project that's been in the works since about
• 2:49
  2014, shows that there are gigantic challenges involved in
• 2:54
  creating a valuable electric vehicle.
• 2:57
  And despite Apple's vast resources and technological
• 2:59
  prowess, project face numerous obstacles, including leadership
• 3:02
  changes and launch delays. Musk has long acknowledged the
• 3:07
  complexities inherent in electric vehicle production.
• 3:09
  He has previously commented on the significant differences
• 3:12
  between manufacturing, consumer electronics, and autos, noting
• 3:16
  the higher complexity and coordination required for the
• 3:18
  latter, and Musk's past remarks have included pointed
• 3:21
  observations about Apple's efforts in the electric vehicle
• 3:24
  space, even referring to Apple as a quote Tesla graveyard or
• 3:28
  former Tesla employees end up. This suggests a long standing
• 3:32
  skepticism on Musk's part regarding Apple's ability to
• 3:35
  make significant inroads into the electric car market now.
• 3:39
  The abandonment of Project Titan reflects A broader trend within
• 3:41
  the tech industry, where companies must continually
• 3:44
  assess and realign their project profiles and their portfolios
• 3:48
  based on feasibility, market potential, and strategic fit.
• 3:53
  And Apple's decision to cease development of its electric car
• 3:56
  project may have been influenced by such strategic
• 3:58
  considerations. The transition of Project Titan
• 4:01
  team members to Apple's AI division could signal a renewed
• 4:05
  emphasis on artificial intelligence within the company.
• 4:08
  This move might be aimed at bolstering Apple's position and
• 4:10
  increasingly competitive AI landscape, for other tech giants
• 4:14
  have already established strong presences.
• 4:16
  The cessation of Apple Car project has broader implications
• 4:20
  for the EV industry. It highlights the challenges
• 4:22
  even well funded and technologically adept companies
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  face at entering and innovating within the sector.
• 4:28
  It it shows that you need expertise and commitment that's
• 4:32
  required to succeed for these kind of projects.
• 4:36
  Musk's subtle response to Apple's decision, particularly
• 4:38
  the use of the cigarette emoji, might also hint at his relief or
• 4:42
  vindication. Considering the intense
• 4:44
  competition and high stakes involved in the EV market, this
• 4:48
  could be interpreted as a moment of respite for Tesla, with a
• 4:51
  major potential competitor stepping back from the fray.
• 4:54
  The future of the employees affected by the project's
• 4:56
  cancellation remains uncertain, with potential impacts on their
• 5:00
  careers and the broader tech job market.
• 5:02
  The ability of these individuals to find new rules within Apple
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  or elsewhere will be a key aspect of the industry's talent
• 5:08
  dynamics in the coming months. Now this pivot from Apple away
• 5:13
  from EVs and towards artificial intelligence could reflect a
• 5:16
  reassessment of where the company believes it can make the
• 5:19
  most significant impact. This decision may have been
• 5:22
  influenced by the current state of the EV market, technological
• 5:25
  challenges or even Apple score competencies.
• 5:29
  And the cessation of Project Titan marks the end of one of
• 5:31
  Apple's most ambitious projects, signifying a major shift in the
• 5:35
  company's focus and potentially its future direction.
• 5:38
  The decision not only effects Apple and its employees but also
• 5:41
  has Ripple a threat edit this out but also has ripple effects
• 5:45
  across the tech and auto industries.
• 5:48
  Now Musk's reaction to the news, while in keeping with this
• 5:51
  typical social media demeanor, invites a WAD rant edit this
• 5:55
  out, he invites a wide range of interpretations regarding his
• 5:58
  views on competition, the electric vehicle market, and
• 6:01
  Apple strategic decisions. And Apple's decision to halt its
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  EV project represents a significant shift in the company
• 6:08
  strategy with potential implications for the tech and
• 6:11
  auto sectors. And Elon's messages show that
• 6:15
  he's a competitive guy. There's dynamics and challenges
• 6:18
  inherent to the EV market, and he also highlights the
• 6:21
  unpredictable nature of tech industry ventures.
• 6:26
  Hey, thank you so much for listening today.
• 6:27
  I really do appreciate your support.
• 6:29
  If you could take a second and hit the subscribe or the follow
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  button on whatever podcast platform that you're listening
• 6:34
  on right now, I'd greatly appreciate it.
• 6:37
  It helps out the show tremendously and you'll never
• 6:40
  miss an episode. And each episode is about 10
• 6:43
  minutes or less to get you caught up quickly.
• 6:45
  And please, if you want to support the show even more, go
• 6:49
  to patreon.com/stagezero. Please take care of yourselves
• 6:54
  and each other and I'll see you tomorrow.