Apple, Tesla to Take Hit From Chip Shortage, a Sign of Problem’s Intensity

[TruckElectric]

Apple, Tesla to Take Hit From Chip Shortage, a Sign of Problem’s Intensity

The supply-chain woes for microprocessors are hitting those once seen less affected

https://www.wsj.com/video/series/ws...y-crunch/654DC874-9520-42A2-9D02-C47AB60E2DCD
A global chip shortage is affecting how quickly we can drive a car off the lot or buy a new laptop. WSJ visits a fabrication plant in Singapore to see the complex process of chip making and how one manufacturer is trying to overcome the shortage. Photo: Edwin Cheng for The Wall Street Journal

https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-...tage-a-sign-of-problems-intensity-11627474416

 

[TruckElectric]

Elon Musk snipes at Apple twice on Tesla earnings call
PUBLISHED MON, JUL 26 20217:22 PM EDT

KEY POINTS

• Tesla CEO Elon Musk sniped at Silicon Valley neighbor Apple twice during a conference call to discuss Tesla earnings on Monday.
• The first time, he said that Apple uses more cobalt in its batteries than Tesla did.
• The second time, after he referred to “walled gardens,” he fake coughed and mentioned Apple in a reference to challenges to its App Store policies.

Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., right, departs from court for the SolarCity trial in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., on Monday, July 12, 2021.
Samuel Corum | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Tesla CEO Elon Musk sniped at Silicon Valley neighbor Apple twice during a conference call to discuss Tesla earnings on Monday.

Although the companies don’t compete directly today, Apple is reportedly building an electric self-driving vehicle under a project code-named Titan, and has attracted a number of engineers and executives away from Tesla. The Titan project is reportedly run by Doug Field, who returned to Apple in 2018 after five years at Tesla.

When asked about Tesla’s supply chain, Musk said that there’s a misperception that Tesla uses a lot of cobalt, a key material in the production of lithium-ion cells used in both smartphones and electric cars.

“Apple uses I think almost 100% cobalt in their batteries and cell phones and laptops, but Tesla uses no cobalt in the iron-phosphate packs, and almost none in the nickel-based chemistries,” Musk said. “On on a weighted-average basis we might use 2% cobalt compared to say, Apple’s 100% cobalt. Anyway, so it’s just really not a factor.”

Some cobalt mined in places like the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been linked to human rights abuses such as child labor. In 2019, Apple, in addition to Tesla and other major technology companies, was named as defendants in a human rights lawsuit, according to The Guardian.

In a conflict minerals report published earlier this year, Apple said it publishes a list of all conflict minerals and cobalt smelters and refiners, and all of Apple’s cobalt suppliers participated in audits in 2020. An Apple representative didn’t return a request for comment.

Later in the call, Musk made a crack about Apple’s so-called “walled garden,” which is named because Apple strictly controls what software can be installed on the iPhone through its App Store. Apple’s walled garden is facing scrutiny from lawmakers and other companies, including in an antitrust trial that took place earlier this year after it was sued by Epic Games over App Store fees and policies.

“I think we do want to emphasize that our goal is to support the advent of sustainable energy,” Musk said in response to a question about letting competitors use its charger network. “It is not to create a walled garden and use that to bludgeon our competitors which is used by some companies.”

Musk then faked a cough and said, “Apple.”

During the call, Musk said he likely would not appear on future Tesla earnings calls unless he has “something really important” that he needs to say.

SOURCE: CNBC

 

[BillyGee]

It's only a matter of time before one of these companies decides to build a state side chip factory to support their own needs.

 

[TruckElectric]

It's only a matter of time before one of these companies decides to build a state side chip factory to support their own needs.

Apple has over $200B in cash. Maybe they could do a joint venture with Tesla? ?

 

[BillyGee]

Apple has over $200B in cash. Maybe they could do a joint venture with Tesla? ?

I hope not. They have glaringly different market philosophies and I'd hate for the EV market to get hung up because apple thinks they deserve more chips than Tesla does or some nonsense like that. Apple doesn't have the best track record of playing nicely with even their own suppliers.

 

[TruckElectric]

I hope not. They have glaringly different market philosophies and I'd hate for the EV market to get hung up because apple thinks they deserve more chips than Tesla does or some nonsense like that. Apple doesn't have the best track record of playing nicely with even their own suppliers.

I was just kidding. Elon doesn't care too much for Tim Cook or Apple from what I gather.

 

[Crissa]

Elon likes him well enough, but Cook has never returned his phonecalls.

I wouldn't call it sniping, so much as pointing out the differences. Right now Tesla does have a walled garden, but it's not because of any plan to wall it. I think it's the same security reasons that leave them worried about revealing too much for outsiders to link into.

-Crissa

 

[madquadbiker]

It's only a matter of time before one of these companies decides to build a state side chip factory to support their own needs.

If only one thing comes out of this Chinese Flu episode is you must manufacture more goods in your own country.

 

[Crissa]

If only one thing comes out of this Chinese Flu episode is you must manufacture more goods in your own country.

Yeah, finding out that the federal plan was not to have manufacturing capacity but just a stockpile... What the heck?

-Crissa

 

[TruckElectric]

Elon likes him well enough, but Cook has never returned his phonecalls.

Your'e wrong, again! ?


According to the book, during a 2016 phone call between Musk and Cook that touched on the possibility of Apple purchasing Tesla, Musk told Cook that a purchase of Telsa by Apple could only go forward if he became CEO of the combined company.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook and Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk are talking on the phone. The 2016 unveiling of the make-it-or-break-it Model 3 is coming soon, but Tesla is in serious financial trouble. Cook has an idea: Apple buys Tesla.
Musk is interested, but one condition: “I’m CEO.”
Sure, says Cook. When Apple bought Beats in 2014, it kept on the founders, Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre.
No, Musk says. Apple. Apple CEO.
“F— you” Cook says and hangs up.

Elon Musk has previously claimed that he once reached out to Tim Cook to "discuss the possibility of Apple acquiring Tesla." Cook, according to Musk, declined to take the meeting. The new book claims that while a meeting never took place, a phone call between the two CEOs did. It is worth noting, however, that during an interview with The New York Times' Kara Swisher in April, Cook said he had never spoken to Musk but has "great admiration and respect" for Tesla.

 

[CyberGus]

If only one thing comes out of this Chinese Flu episode is you must manufacture more goods in your own country.

Please do not refer to Covid-19 as "Chinese", it's reductive and insulting.

The location of chip manufacturing is unrelated to the global shortage; the largest Samsung fab outside of Korea is here in Austin. The pandemic contributed to the chip shortage by causing an immense demand, as the work-from-home paradigm spurred sales of computers and growth of the cloud computing market.

Free trade spurs economic growth, and promotes security between trading partners.

 

[Ogre]

Your'e wrong, again! ?


According to the book, during a 2016 phone call between Musk and Cook that touched on the possibility of Apple purchasing Tesla, Musk told Cook that a purchase of Telsa by Apple could only go forward if he became CEO of the combined company.


Elon Musk has previously claimed that he once reached out to Tim Cook to "discuss the possibility of Apple acquiring Tesla." Cook, according to Musk, declined to take the meeting. The new book claims that while a meeting never took place, a phone call between the two CEOs did. It is worth noting, however, that during an interview with The New York Times' Kara Swisher in April, Cook said he had never spoken to Musk but has "great admiration and respect" for Tesla.

Both Musk and Cook have said they’ve never met or spoken on the phone. The story was BS invented to sell a mediocre book. The author later admitted it was essentially water cooler talk at Tesla.

Also, I don’t buy any story which suggests Cook lost his shit and told someone to Fuck Off. That dude is one cool cucumber.

Likewise, I highly doubt Musk would want to run Apple. Musk has said he doesn’t even want to run Tesla and I think he is sincere. Musk likes to get his hands dIrty and running Apple there is no room for the CEO to get their hands dirty.

 

[TruckElectric]

The author later admitted it was essentially water cooler talk at Tesla.

Link?

Also, I don’t buy any story which suggests Cook lost his shit and told someone to Fuck Off. That dude is one cool cucumber.

It's the cool cumber dudes you have to watch out for. I've been shocked just a few times over the years by these types.

Likewise, I highly doubt Musk would want to run Apple. Musk has said he doesn’t even want to run Tesla and I think he is sincere. Musk likes to get his hands dIrty and running Apple there is no room for the CEO to get their hands dirty.

If Elon became CEO of Apple he would make room to do whatever he felt necessary.


It really is hard to say what has gone on between Elon Musk and Tim Cook.

But I would trust Elon before Tim Cook any day, but that is just me.

 

[Ogre]

But I would trust Elon before Tim Cook any day, but that is just me.

Same.

But that’s the thing, Musk denies it happened too.

 

[Crissa]

I'm going to believe Cook and Musk, not some muckraking book without evidence.

-Crissa