For a long time I thought the Apple va Android rivalry was invented by the two companies so that all the press would be about them, rather than Microsoft being given the default position as the incumbent.

I think I was overestimating them, but once again think that's a feasible strategy, Tesla vs Apple fanbois arguing on the internet could be the best thing to ever happen to all-electric vehicles, and leave petrol and hybrid cars looking archaic, rather than the current paradigm where its Tesla vs the old industry.

My take would be that Musk simply wouldn't sell. We know that they have spoken, and that Apple is an investor in the Gigafactory, so regardless, they'll be paying Tesla for iDevice batteries in the long run.

Competing against them on a car is a really interesting play though. Not sure what to make of it just yet.

I'm sure this must have come up, but the two companies have pretty different manufacturing styles, and integrating them could kill the momentum needed to pull this off. Unless Apple is willing to use Tesla's US operations for version 1 and re-evaluate after that.

Maybe they have and Elon won't sell.