The blog just put out a lengthy report with tons of new details about the project, which is believed to be codenamed “Titan.”
Here’s what we learned from Apple Insider, which claims to have spoken with sources familiar with the matter.
- Apple’s electric car is codenamed “SG5.”
- It’s well beyond the concept stage.
- The company is believed to be receiving shipments for components at a location in Sunnyvale, which is just minutes from its main campus at 1 Infinite Loop.
- Apple has offices in Sunnyvale, but it’s believed to be working on its electric car in a secretive building labeled 175 that reportedly belongs to a market research firm called SixtyEight. This could be a fake company that Apple is using as a front for its car project, but that hasn’t been confirmed.
- Many of Apple’s auto-related hires, including some from Tesla, are working out of the Sunnyvale campus.
- These employees have been told to turn their badges around when entering the building to avoid suspicion.
Over the past several weeks, multiple reports have suggested Apple is indeed building a car. The Mac Observer’s Bryan Chaffin reported in February that one of his sources was 80% sure Apple is working on a car. Business Insider also received an email from an anonymous Apple employee saying the company is working on a project that would “give Tesla a run for its money.” Apple shareholders recently told CEO Tim Cook that they’d like to see the company buy Tesla.
Apple hasn’t confirmed or denied any plans about getting into the automotive business. On Thursday, however, Cook surprised CNBC’s Jim Cramer with a phone call during his “Mad Money” show. Cramer asked Cook if he views the car and the home as the next big frontiers for Apple, and Cook responded, “I think those are two big ones.”
This article originally appeared in Business Insider. Copyright 2015.
