Apple is not verifying anything about the Apple Car, but their mobility project has been an open secret for years now. Because of this, Toyota Corporation President Akio Toyota shared a little wisdom for the American tech and lifestyle brand.
“I’d like them to be prepared to deal with customers and various changes for some 40 years.”
Speaking in a news conference for the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association where he sits as the chairman, Toyoda said that new entrants in the industry can breathe new life and give customers a wider range of choices. However, they need to be responsible for the entire life cycle of the vehicle – from maintenance to eventual scrapping.
A report from the Wall Street Journal, as cited by 9to5Mac, explains that the car industry “wouldn’t be happy with an arrangement in which an Apple partner bore responsibility for long-term risks” which is why Toyoda said such remarks.
It’s a friendly nudge to Apple who’s known for having short life cycles in most of their products, with new iterations being launched every year. They’re also notorious for their products’ low repairability, which further hampers their longevity and forces users to upgrade.
