http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-29/fiat-ceo-s-proposal-for-apple-car-deal-isn-t-as-crazy-as-it-sounds Fiat CEO's Proposal for Apple Car Deal Isn't as Crazy as It Sounds by Tim Higgins April 29, 2015
[image / Alessandra Benedetti/Bloomberg http://media.gotraffic.net/images/i0Qs21Ym1ZDM/v17/488x-1.jpg Fiat SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne "I've always been intrigued by the notion of having technology disruptors show up in the marketplace and change the paradigm," Marchionne told analysts Wednesday. ] Fiat Chrysler's CEO, seeking a partner to merge with, just said he's open to an alliance with Apple. "I've always been intrigued by the notion of having technology disruptors show up in the marketplace and change the paradigm," Sergio Marchionne told analysts Wednesday as part of his pitch for why the automotive industry should consolidate. "If they show up and they are truly successful, with their cash piles and know-how, they could fundamentally hurt this industry." Asked if he would be willing to take his proposal to Apple or Google if rebuffed by other automakers, Marchionne said it was possible. "I think we should encourage that dialogue anyway." Marchionne's comments underscore the possible changes afoot in the automotive and tech industries as the two become increasingly intertwined, potentially opening new doors to unusual players and relationships. The idea of an Apple tie-up isn't as preposterous as it may sound. Here's why: Apple Car? Apple has been exploring the development of its own electric car, pushing its engineers to begin production as early as 2020, though it may scrap those efforts or delay plans if executives are unhappy with the progress, people familiar with the effort said earlier this year. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook is driving the maker of iPhones and iPads to enter new product categories to further envelop users' digital lives within the Apple world. Already friendly. Marchionne's Fiat already has a relationship with Apple. Eddy Cue, the tech company's head of Internet software and services, has sat on the Ferrari SpA board since 2012. Apple Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri spent many years at General Motors, including as the executive in charge of the U.S. automaker's relationship with Fiat between 2000 and 2005 ... Such a deal may still be unlikely. Apple, which has shied away from large acquisitions ... Owning a global automaker doesn't fit with that strategy. [© bloomberg.com] http://learnbonds.com/fiat-chrysler-wants-an-automotive-apple-inc/117925/ Fiat Chrysler Wants An Automotive Apple Inc. April 30, 2015 By Viraj Shah Apple Inc. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV merger may not be preposterous as it may sound as both companies look to expand in the auto industry. There have been talks in the recent weeks that Apple is working on a secret project with a view to developing its first car, as early as 2020. With Fiat CEO, Sergio Marchionne affirming willingness to partner other tech companies in the development of cars, a merger seems like a viable possibility should Apple come calling. Marchionne is of the strongest belief that automotive and tech industries have become increasingly intertwined opening doors for partnerships in key areas. Talks between the auto and the tech industry should be encouraged according to the executive as both industries continue to develop innovation that can be used across the divide. Apple looks to electric movement Apple is exploring the possibility of developing its own electric car with reports indicating that the plans could be scrapped altogether, should the executives feel uncomfortable with the progress being made. The Cupertino based company is looking for other areas of growth having dominated the smartphone arena with iPhones. A slowdown in iPad sales also justifies the need to pursue other areas that should cement the ongoing momentum in growth ... [© 2015 LearnBonds.com] http://theenergycollective.com/energydeborah/2222076/uber-vs-google-electric-vehicles-are-about-get-really-interesting Uber vs. Google: Electric Vehicles Are About To Get Really Interesting April 29, 2015 by: Deborah Lawrence You pick up your cell phone and open the Uber app. Within minutes a car drives up to collect you. You can even choose the color of the vehicle. You hop in and off you go. Sounds simple and it is. It has also been one of the most disruptive events in decades. Ask any New York City cab driver! Now just imagine if Uber were to get disrupted itself within the next five to ten years! If you said “no way”, you’re probably right because it looks like Uber has already identified this risk and taken measures to position itself…maybe even for further disruption. The Tesla Model S can go from 0 to 60 in a breathtaking 5.1 seconds. Soon it is rumored that it will take a mere 2.8 seconds. It has a sleek though somewhat conventional design. I mean, c’mon, it’s a sedan. And no doubt all these attributes were carefully thought out to help us navigate the fundamental changes occurring in the energy and transportation markets as we speak. When change comes too fast and in too exotic a package, there is a risk that it won’t catch on. Hence an elegant simple sedan. Albeit one that thrills you the moment you touch the accelerator. Google and Apple, too, are building electric cars. Which brings us to the point. Are these cars or glorified computers on wheels? ... Technology has now entered these markets and the interesting thing about technology is that a.) it becomes cheaper with scale and b.) it can be designed to complement other technologies creating virtuous circles. For instance, Solar City will put DG solar on your roof, a battery pack in your garage and Tesla will park an EV next to the battery pack. The three technologies together enhance each separate technology and make it that much more cost effective and useful. Each encourages consumers to use more of the others. That can mean big profits for companies. The Google EV is a funny looking squished up VW Beetle-esque podcar. And yet, pundits are already talking about disruption. So how could it ever be disruptive? Well, it’s a driverless car and according to Business Insider: “Once the driver isn’t required to drive the car, the “automobile” can finally live up to its name and mobilize autonomously. If you need to get somewhere in a car, you summon one using some type of GPS-enabled technology, a Google Car arrives, its drives you where you need to go while you do something else, and it hums away once you arrive at your destination…Repeat as necessary.” It’s Uber without a driver! Hence the next stage of potential disruption from Uber. Owning a car is not the most efficient or cost effective means of transporting ourselves. It makes much more sense to have fleets or driverless cars such as Google envisions to take us where we need to go. We already know how efficient and quick Uber is. The model works albeit with a driver at present. But this is probably not the way of the future. So what has Uber done? They have joined up with Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD. Uber has entered into an agreement with BYD to test electric cars in the US. BYD’s most famous investor is Warren Buffett. But perhaps much more interesting than that is the fact that BYD has been working on an autonomous vehicle. That’s right, just like the Google car. And this would be of obvious value to Uber. In February, 2014, BYD announced a joint laboratory agreement with I2R, a Singapore company. The press release stated: “…I2R is very proud to be able to attract BYD, one of China’s largest companies specializing in electric vehicles to invest heavily in Singapore and jointly develop more than one hundred electric cars with autonomous capabilities. With I2R’s expertise in the autonomous vehicle technologies, coupled with BYD’s vast experience in electric vehicles…we hope to benefit the transport industry…all over the world.” Uber has teamed up with a EV dealer in Chicago to offer BYD’s e6 [EV]. The e6 is a four door electric sedan perfect for taxis. This is a win, win for UberX drivers, the dealership and the city of Chicago at the moment. According to Car and Driver: “…(BYD) partnered with Uber and the dealer since the city offers $10,000 rebates to taxi fleets that purchase EVs, on top of a $4000 rebate from the state of Illinois.” But it also positions Uber to be ready for the autonomous vehicle transition. Given that estimates are for this to happen within the next five years, Uber’s joint venture with BYD is timely to say the least. A few years hence, we may open that app and drive home in an electric vehicle that has no driver. [© Social Media Today] ... http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/driverless-cars-in-the-near-future-for-fort-bragg/article_9ab20600-c91a-5360-b1a4-be8bcc90dce1.html Driverless cars in the near future for Fort Bragg [20150429] The driverless vehicles will carry Fort Bragg's wounded warriors to and from appointments ... https://www.fac ebook.com/fayobserver/posts/818510141556960 For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Interesting-Aton-EVs-Fiat-Apple-Car-Proposal-Uber-vs-Google-tp4675228.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
