Apple still plans to launch an electric car, but not before 2028 (at best)

SAN FRANCISCO: The legendary Apple car, which has been fuelling fantasies for years, will probably not see the light of day until 2028.

Far from its initial ambitions, Apple is said to be working on a vehicle that is only partly autonomous, and clearly aimed at the top end of the market.

The Cupertino-based tech firm has never commented officially on the subject, maintaining its tradition of secrecy.

Often referred to as "Project Titan," Apple's initial idea was to produce a fully autonomous electric car. For the moment, however, the project has not yet progressed beyond the laboratory stage, and no prototype or artist's impression has yet been unveiled.

According to Bloomberg, the launch of an Apple car is not expected before 2028, at the earliest.

Apple is said to have seriously scaled back its ambitions, no longer envisaging a fully autonomous car without a steering wheel or pedals (which wouldn't even be allowed on the road at present).

Instead, the manufacturer is reported to be working on a solution similar to Tesla's Autopilot, ie, an intelligent onboard system that is regularly updated and capable of performing certain tasks autonomously, with the driver remaining attentive and ready to regain control of the car at any moment.

Apple is also reportedly still looking for partners to launch production. Finally, it's no surprise to learn that, if Apple ever does bring out a car, it won't be a budget-friendly model, since it's likely to be priced at around US$100,000.

Sony, another major player in the field of new technologies, has already taken the plunge, in association with Honda.

The future Afeela, the first model to be developed by this new entity, named Sony Honda Mobility, was presented at CES ahead of its release, still scheduled for 2026.

While Honda brings all its mechanical skills and expertise to the project, Sony brings its experience in software and entertainment platforms.