The latest Apple buzz has been about its interest in…cars. As far back as 2012, there has been talk of Apple making agreements with up to nine auto-makers to integrate access to Siri on the iPhone, directly with car controls. The system, now called Siri Eyes Free, has already been incorporated into select Chevrolet and Honda models, with BMW and General Motors planning to put Eyes Free in a number of 2014 vehicles. Now it has been brought to light that Apple has been talking with Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, since last year. This could easily be attributed as part of Apple’s plans to get Siri Eyes Free into as many cars as possible.
What people are taking notice of, however, is that the talks with Tesla have been handled by Adrian Perica, Chief of Mergers and Acquisitions for Apple. This has analysts and everyone else all agog about the possibility of an Apple acquisition of Tesla Motors.
This may have started last year when investment banking analyst Adnaan Ahmad wrote an open letter to Tim Cook and board member Al Gore, suggesting Apple acquire Tesla;
“I know this is radical and potentially ‘transformative,’ but this would radically alter Apple’s growth profile. In Elon Musk, you could strike up a partnership and obtain a new iconic partner to lead Apple’s innovation drive.”
Speculation is all over the board on this, from intimating that the purchase would be to acquire Elon Musk himself, possibly to assume the role of CEO of Apple; to Apple getting into the car manufacturing business. The more rational connection, as reported by 9to5Mac, is…wait for it…batteries. Tesla plans to announce a US battery ‘Gigafactory’ that will more than double world-wide lithium-ion battery production. Given the amount of batteries Apple uses in its products, it would make a lot of sense to partner with Tesla, reportedly alongside other companies, and invest in a “green” US factory venture. So, if you had your hopes up to own an Apple “iCar”, chances are the closest you’ll get is if you buy a Tesla from Tesla, or a new Honda Accord with Siri Hands Free telling you where to go.