Apple and Google surprise Daimler with their progress on cars

[Cashmere]

Apple and Google surprise Daimler with their progress on cars

You'd think that the head of Daimler would have little to worry about from Silicon Valley right now given his company's technological progress, but there is apparently a good reason to be nervous. CEO Dieter Zetsche tellsWelt am Sonntag that a visit to tech companies in the Valley left Daimler convinced that Apple and Google "can do more and know more" about cars than previously thought. That's no mean feat when Google's self-driving car efforts are still rough around the edges, and Apple hasn't even acknowledged its plans -- what do you know that we don't, Dieter? He's glad that the companies have "more respect" for Daimler's work than he suspected, but something tells us that Mercedes-Benz will be stepping up its game regardless.

This wasn't just a whistle stop tour, though. Zetsche added that he and a managerial team met 70 Silicon Valley companies during their trip, and there were "concrete talks" with at least some of those firms. In other words, it won't be shocking if the folks in Stuttgart forge a few tech-driven partnerships in the near future.


http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/24/apple-and-google-surprise-daimler/

 

[klier]

But will they surprise BMW?

 

[PanterroR]

But will they surprise BMW?

No offence to all my friends around here using Apple products (), but last thing i want to see is a BMW with Apple's interface...

Sorry, friends, i'm just totally against iOS 'n stuff...

 

[klier]

No offence to all my friends around here using Apple products (), but last thing i want to see is a BMW with Apple's interface...

Sorry, friends, i'm just totally against iOS 'n stuff...

I am not against iOS, but I do not want to see this overly familiar stuff in my car either, with yet again the same apps and icons. No thanks. Give me something pretty and unique please, only to be had in a BMW product.

 

[Cashmere]

No offence to all my friends around here using Apple products (), but last thing i want to see is a BMW with Apple's interface...

Sorry, friends, i'm just totally against iOS 'n stuff...

You don't have to use iOS (CarPlay) if you do not want to - there's also Android Auto and most carmakers are adopting both.

Regardless of one's preference (Android or iOS), there is no denying that these platforms provide far better phone integration (GPS/Maps/POI Data/streaming service/ Artificial Intelligence) than any proprietary platform (iDrive/Command/MMI) and will become a standard feature across the industry (in addition to the proprietary platforms).

The way I see it, this is great for consumers, as majority of the auto industry has constantly created terrible ICE experiences with little to no upgradeability.

 

[tieftaucher]

I guess at some day Google will take over a car company.

 

[Centurion]

You’d think that the head of Daimler would have little to worry about from Silicon Valley right now given his company’s technological progress, but there is apparently a good reason to be nervous.

Even Dyson has announced plans to build an electric car and I don't blame them for taking to the challange.

Daimler, VW AG and Toyota are massive behemoths with astronomical overheads. If a tech company can source the drive train OEM, they might succeed in developing cheaper cars.

The biggest barrier to price undercutting is legislation. Regardless of how cheap a car is, it must be as a safe and crash proof as a more expensive one. Safety isn't cheap!

 

[klier]

I guess at some day Google will take over a car company.

Yea or opposite.

 

[Mr Robert]

The biggest barrier to price undercutting is legislation. Regardless of how cheap a car is, it must be as a safe and crash proof as a more expensive one. Safety isn't cheap!

Yes, and that is why cars not made by carmakers will suffer. They will be sold, but not here. 3:rd world countries (in a car safety sense) will love them! Come to think of it, that's where the cut in co2 is most important, so why not?

 

[KiwiRob]

Yes, and that is why cars not made by carmakers will suffer. They will be sold, but not here. 3:rd world countries (in a car safety sense) will love them! Come to think of it, that's where the cut in co2 is most important, so why not?

I highly doubt an Apple car will be 1) cheap and 2) sold in developing markets.

 

[SDNR]

I highly doubt an Apple car will be 1) cheap and 2) sold in developing markets.

Samsung is already working with Renault and building cars in South Korea so no doubt we'll see somthing from them too.

 

[DjordjeC63]

Samsung is also making howitzers. And Hyundai tanks.

 

[Mr Robert]

I highly doubt an Apple car will be 1) cheap and 2) sold in developing markets.

1) they must be, to fight the fact that they will be of low class quality. And 2) that's where they sholud start.

 

[KiwiRob]

1) they must be, to fight the fact that they will be of low class quality. And 2) that's where they sholud start.

I disagree, since when has Apple ever gone into any market segment with a cheap low class low end product, they never start at the bottom, they always start at the top end and come out with something innovative. Tesla showed how it can be done, if a small company with much smaller funds can build the Model S Apple with a much larger pot of gold should be able to much better.

 

[KiwiRob]

Samsung is already working with Renault and building cars in South Korea so no doubt we'll see somthing from them too.

Samsung started off as an alliance with Nissan then become a subsidary of Renault. Samsung owns abotu 20% of the operation, the cars are all badge engineered Renault and Nissan vehicles. The cars are badged as Renault Samsung, I doubt there will be a Samsung vehicle in it's own right.

 

[SDNR]

Samsung started off as an alliance with Nissan then become a subsidary of Renault. Samsung owns abotu 20% of the operation, the cars are all badge engineered Renault and Nissan vehicles. The cars are badged as Renault Samsung, I doubt there will be a Samsung vehicle in it's own right.

That's good info. Thanks.

 

[klier]

I disagree, since when has Apple ever gone into any market segment with a cheap low class low end product, they never start at the bottom, they always start at the top end and come out with something innovative. Tesla showed how it can be done, if a small company with much smaller funds can build the Model S Apple with a much larger pot of gold should be able to much better.

A car is not at all like a little iPhone, iPad or Macbook. Come on now.

 

[Leech]

I though the same, but yesterday you could see line infront in front of Tesla store. Non of the car guys would be in that line but there is a lot of iphone, ps4, etc kind of people with driving licence (unfortunately). :/

 

[KiwiRob]

A car is not at all like a little iPhone, iPad or Macbook. Come on now.

no kidding, how long did it take you to work that out?

Apple as a brand is not a cheap brand, they will not launch a car which competes at the bottom of the price scale, it does not fit their image, it's that simple.

 

[KiwiRob]

A car is not at all like a little iPhone, iPad or Macbook. Come on now.

no kidding, how long did it take you to work that out?

Apple as a brand is not a cheap brand, they will not launch a car which competes at the bottom of the price scale, it does not fit their image, it's that simple.