Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted at a shareholders meeting on February 26, Friday that the company's development of an iCar or other auto industry products would be like kids on Christmas Eve waiting for the big day. Cook made the statement about a possible electric/self-driving Apple Car while discussing other issues including the tech giant's current battle with the FBI over encryption backdoors to unlock iPhones.
The company's chief executive asked his audience to reminisce about when they were young children who did not know what was going on downstairs on Christmas Eve. In terms of launching an Apple Car he suggested it will be the day before Christmas for a long time, according to The Verge.
Cook has recently been dropping hints his company is working on an iCar. The latest comments help to build interest but also ask people to be patient. It will take a long time to learn more about the tech giant's first car including its appearance and features.
Cook recently said in an interview with Fortune that the company does not have to spend a lot of money to explore the issue. He explained that Apple is committed to projects after it starts spending money on tooling, but is only curious when it hires teams of workers to explore ideas.
Cook discussed several other issues at the shareholder's meeting. Apple's CEO stated that he opposes writing an encryption backdoor of the iPhone owned by one of the San Bernardino shooters, so the FBI could access the dead terrorist's contacts.
One day earlier Apple filed a legal motion to reject the FBI's request to access the iPhone's data, according to USA Today. Cook stressed mobile privacy at the shareholders meeting. He explained that it is key to the company's global growth in China and maybe India.
The security issue is a key one in China where Apple has built a $59 billion business. Its customers must deal with issues including government surveillance and hacking.
Experts have argued that if Apple weakens its mobile security for the US government it could reduce sales in countries outside the states including Apple's No. 2 market: China.
Here's a talk about Apple Car: