Jobs Mob is pushing forward its plans to build an electric car with a target ship date of 2019, which is about the time that the company should be giving up on smartphones and tablets.

It appears that Apple is starting small. The plan does not seem to be to have a self-driving car, which is the goal of Google. The plan is to come up with a mostly automatic car, presumably to learn about all the technology needed.

What this will do is place Apple firmly in the car market. However it will be a long way behind others who know what they are doing.

Apple has been claiming to the Wall Street Journal that electric cars are similar to a smart phone. They need batteries, sensors, software and chips. However engines is something that Apple has no background with and an iPad does not need a breaking system.

Nevertheless Jobs' Mob has spent a couple of years investigating the feasibility of an Apple-branded car. Leaders of the project, code-named Titan, have been given permission to triple the 600-person team.

Still it gives something for Apple to work towards and spend its piles of cash.  It could almost work too.  Coming into the industy with piles of cash to spend means that it does not have the huge overheads of the legacy manufacturers and debts.  It could build fully robotic plants and keep labour costs low.  Much would depend on Apple's ability to adapt from an expensive toymaker to a carmaker and improve its corporate culture.   It is also unlikely that many of its cult will buy a car with an apple label on it – their mums would never let them drive.