The Apple vehicle may still exist and make its debut with less autonomy in 2028.

According to reports, Apple has temporarily lowered its ambitions for cars. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the company’s ten-year-old vehicle project has changed its focus from designing a completely autonomous vehicle to one that resembles a Tesla. It is currently anticipated that the dreaded “Apple Car” will debut no sooner than 2028, which is two years after the company’s most recent stated goal date.

According to reports, the autonomous characteristics of the automobile were first lowered from a Level 5 system (full automation) to a Level 4 system (full automation in some situations) and finally to a Level 2+ one system (partial automation). That would imply that it still needs the driver’s whole attention while providing a limited range of self-driving functions, such as lane centering and braking/accelerating help.

Level 2 autopilots include Tesla’s Autopilot. Although not a legal classification, Level 2+ is occasionally used colloquially to refer to a more sophisticated variant of Level 2.

What Apple had envisioned as a vehicle with no pedals or steering wheel, maybe equipped with a remote command center that could take over for a driver, now resembles a Tesla-style market entry.

According to Bloomberg, Apple sees the internal project downscaling as “a pivotal moment.” According to people with knowledge of Apple’s intentions, the project’s success or failure may depend on how well the trimmed-down Apple Car is delivered and how low expectations are set

It has been claimed that Apple has discussed the revised plan with possible European production partners. Although the business’s launch is planned for something more grounded, Bloomberg reports that the company still hopes to deliver a Level 4 autonomous system at some time.

According to Bloomberg, there were “frenzied” discussions between project manager Kevin Lynch, Apple board members, and CEO Tim Cook before Apple’s decision. Following Doug Field’s departure as leader in 2021, the latter assumed control. Field, who presently oversees Ford’s EV wing, was the previous chief of engineering at Tesla. According to reports, the board pressed leadership on the automotive strategy for the entire year 2023.

Self-driving vehicles had a poor 2023 after getting off to a spectacular start. A quarter of the employees at Cruise, GM’s robotaxi company, were let go in December. That happened after a pedestrian hit by another automobile was stuck and dragged by one of the company’s cars. The California DMV quickly suspended Cruise’s autonomous licenses because of safety concerns. Fortunately, Waymo appears to be doing well. However, the uncontrollable factor in this situation is government norms, and it’s possible that Apple saw a trend that called for prudence.

At least since the middle of the 2010s, there have been speculations around Apple’s Project Titan. The endeavor has cost the corporation hundreds of millions of dollars. Gurman claims that it has worked on “powertrains, self-driving hardware and software, car exteriors and interiors, and other key components.” Don’t be shocked if the costly project’s specifics alter once more, considering how frequently they have in the past.