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Here's everything we know about 'Project Titan,' Apple's electric car

Here's everything we know about 'Project Titan,' Apple's electric car

The rumors first started to fly in February 2015, when the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple had "several hundred employees" working on an "Apple-branded electric vehicle" called Project Titan.

Here's everything we know about 'Project Titan,' Apple's electric car

According to the report, the vehicle looks like a minivan. Senior Apple executives have met with Austrian contract managers including Magna Steyr.

According to the report, the vehicle looks like a minivan. Senior Apple executives have met with Austrian contract managers including Magna Steyr.

The thing is that Apple doesn't actually do any manufacturing, unlike car companies like Ford or Tesla. It contracts the assembly of devices like the iPhone to third-party factory companies like Foxconn.

The thing is that Apple doesn

So Apple's been rumored to be teaming up with automotive contract manufacturers — many of whom are based in Europe. A German paper reported in April that Apple is running a secret lab in Berlin for auto development.

So Apple

In 2014, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited BMW's German headquarters, and senior Apple executives took a tour of BMW's i3 electric car factory.

In 2014, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited BMW

One of those executives was most likely Steve Zadesky, who is a former Ford engineer. But he left Apple in late 2015 for "personal reasons," according to a report.

One of those executives was most likely Steve Zadesky, who is a former Ford engineer. But he left Apple in late 2015 for "personal reasons," according to a report.

He's been replaced by Bob Mansfeld, a long-time Apple executive, according to the Wall Street Journal. Mansfield had retired in 2012, but is still well-respected around Apple because of his technical leadership of projects like the iPad. Bloomberg reports that Bob Mansfeld, the new Apple Car boss, reports directly to Tim Cook.

Mansfeld is leading a team of as many as 1,000, hired from companies like Tesla, Ford, and BMW.

Mansfeld is leading a team of as many as 1,000, hired from companies like Tesla, Ford, and BMW.

These car teams are spreading out over a network of industrial facilities in Sunnyvale, California. Here's a picture of one of the most notorious facilities, where neighbors have reported hearing "motor noises."

These car teams are spreading out over a network of industrial facilities in Sunnyvale, California. Here

These facilities are named after Greek gods. More info here.

In fact, one San Francisco landlord said Apple was looking for 800,000 square feet of space in the Bay Area for "autonomous cars."

In fact, one San Francisco landlord said Apple was looking for 800,000 square feet of space in the Bay Area for "autonomous cars."

According to the Financial Times, the car labs were set up shortly after September 2014, when Apple revealed its Apple Watch.

According to the Financial Times, the car labs were set up shortly after September 2014, when Apple revealed its Apple Watch.

We first heard Apple car rumors in February 2015, when someone identifying himself as an Apple employee emailed us.

We first heard Apple car rumors in February 2015, when someone identifying himself as an Apple employee emailed us.

"Apple's latest project is too exciting to pass up," an anonymous person said in an email to Business Insider. "I think it will change the landscape and give Tesla a run for its money."

Shortly before that, someone had spotted a Dodge Caravan with cameras mounted on its roof driving around the Bay Area.

Shortly before that, someone had spotted a Dodge Caravan with cameras mounted on its roof driving around the Bay Area.

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Now, Apple uses Dodge Caravans for Apple Maps. But at the time it was the first time anyone had spotted an Apple Van and Apple was cagey, as usual.

Now, Apple uses Dodge Caravans for Apple Maps. But at the time it was the first time anyone had spotted an Apple Van and Apple was cagey, as usual.

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Now there are rumors that Apple has a new version of its mapping van driving around — TechRadar saw one in Cupertino, and we saw one on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Now there are rumors that Apple has a new version of its mapping van driving around — TechRadar saw one in Cupertino, and we saw one on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Apple declined to comment. Source. Source.

I wonder what Apple's doing with its fleet of older Dodge Caravans now.

I wonder what Apple

Besides building Apple Maps. Here's everywhere you can expect to find an Apple Maps van, according to Apple.

Most recently, Apple hired Dan Dodge, who founded QNX, the leading car operating system company.

Most recently, Apple hired Dan Dodge, who founded QNX, the leading car operating system company.

The Apple Car team is split into "three pillars": one working on software, one working on hardware, and one working on sensors. Apple has filed patents for LIDAR sensors.

The Apple Car team is split into "three pillars": one working on software, one working on hardware, and one working on sensors. Apple has filed patents for LIDAR sensors.

But Apple may be shifting its focus away from building an actual car to building self-driving car software, according to the report. Google's focusing on software too, but they've also built a prototype.

But Apple may be shifting its focus away from building an actual car to building self-driving car software, according to the report. Google

Apple's head of design, Jony Ive, is a big car guy. Here's video of him gushing over a vintage Ferrari.

Apple

Apple's also hired Ive buddy Marc Newson, who designed a concept car for Ford. Here's what it looks like:

Apple

Apple's car is expected to have a "ship date" in 2019, 2020, or even 2021 according to reports.

Apple

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CEO Tim Cook hasn't said much about the project, but when a shareholder asked at the annual shareholder's meeting, he said, "Do you remember when you were a kid, and Christmas Eve, it was so exciting, you weren't sure what was going to be downstairs? Well, it's going to be Christmas Eve for a while."

CEO Tim Cook hasn

Then he joked, "maybe I should have called on someone else."

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