Pre-reading questions:
- What is your idea about a self-driving car?
- What do you think of a futuristic vehicle that is being built by a company that originally creates smart phones and gadgets?
- Are you familiar with car manufacturers outside your country?
Apple, Inc. makes adjustments on project Titan which originally aimed to develop a self-driving system and construct vehicles in 2020. The company refuses to pursue automobile manufacturing with the fear of compromising quality which could negatively affect their existing products in the market. The project’s team leaders redesigned the plan to give Apple, Inc. the option to tap car makers instead, or delay building its own vehicles at a later time.
This step led to downsizing its manpower to hundreds of employees through reassignment, termination and letting some to resign. On the other hand, more workers were hired to contribute on the revised project. Sources said the management has given the team a deadline to justify its viability at the end of 2017. The company will then draw a conclusion based on the latter.
Vocabulary:
aim – intention
refuse – indicating the unwillingness to do something
compromise – acceptance of standards that are lower than set goals
downsize – reduce
viability – feasibility
Comprehension Questions:
- What is Apple?
- What are the products manufactured and sold by Apple?
- Why did Apple downsize its manpower?
- How did Apple decrease the employees on the project?
Express Your Opinion:
- Apple Inc. is a company known as a maker of the most popular smart phones and other gadgets in the market. Is it okay for them to venture on car making? Why or why not?
- Do you agree that Apple can build a car better than most car manufacturers?
- Is it possible for Apple Inc. to create a vehicle powered by a smart phone?