After conquering communications, Apple now set to make electric cars

The move could very well set the stage for a battle against established firms like Ford, Toyota, and General Motors.

18:12 20 February 2015

Communications and tech giant Apple is set to make electric vehicles as early as 2020, it has been reported. The move could set the stage for a battle against Tesla and General Motors that are scheduled to release their own models of electric vehicles that can go more than 200 miles on a single charge.

Steve LeVine, author of “The Powerhouse,” a book about the automotive battery industry, said:  “That’s the inflection point - the proving ground - that brings on the electric age. Now you have Apple coming in and this is critical mass. Was GM really going to be able to match Tesla? Apple can.”

Apple has currently $178 billion in cash with few avenues to spend it. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook is now being pressured to return the cash to shareholders.

Apple’s car team is composed of about 200 people as the company ramped up the hiring process as well as seeking experts in technologies for batteries and robotics.

However, loyal Apple consumers may not bet on the Apple car just yet. Some commentators say that it’s too early to say if the company is going to push through with it. The plan may be scrap or delayed if executives aren’t happy with the progress.