Apple is pivoting to a less ambitious design for its autonomous EV amid launch delays, report says

• Apple is pivoting to a less ambitious design for its autonomous EV, Bloomberg reported.
• The company is downgrading the vehicle to Level 2+ autonomy, the report said.

Apple appears to be learning that making EVs is no simple feat.

The tech giant is pivoting to a less complex design and delaying the launch date for its planned autonomous vehicle, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the situation.

Following board meetings, the company has limited the car's autonomous features and downgraded the EV to Level 2+ autonomy, Bloomberg reported. Apple had previously planned to build a fully driverless car.

Level 2 autonomous cars can provide features that very briefly allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel, including adaptive cruise control, self-parking features, and lane-centering control. Most autonomous cars available peak at Level 2, although Mercedes-Benz gained approval for Level 3 automated driving systems late last year, Forbes reported.

Apple's EV release date has also been pushed back, with the company expecting a 2028 launch at the very earliest, the Bloomberg report said. Earlier targets included 2026 and 2024.

Representatives for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours. The company declined to comment when reached by Bloomberg.

Apple's foray into the EV market has been in the works for some time, with a previous production date aiming for this year, Reuters reported in 2020.

The tech giant will likely face stiff competition from rival EV companies when it finally brings its product to market. Its most formidable competitors will likely be Tesla and China's BYD, both of which dominate the global EV market.