Even a shiny new smartwatch couldn’t distract Apple shareholders from gossip at their annual meeting this week. CEO Tim Cook was reportedly peppered with questions about a possible partnership with Tesla Motors.
One shareholder flat out told Cook that he wants Apple to buy Telsa. Cook sidestepped the comment, saying that his company doesn’t “really have a relationship” with the car maker, according to Bloomberg. He then quickly changed the subject to Apple’s in-car infotainment system.
“I’d love Tesla to pick up CarPlay,” Cook said. “We now have every major auto brand committing to use CarPlay.” After a pause, he added, “was that a good way to avoid the question? Hey, there are some perks to being CEO.”
Another investor, however, tried again. “There’s something else I’m in love with that’s not Apple—that every time I see it just blows my mind—and that’s when I open my garage and see my Model S,” the unnamed investor said, according to Bloomberg. “Am I insane to imagine something might happen here?”
Following a laugh from the audience, Cook reiterated that “we’re very focused on CarPlay.”
Last year, Tesla chief Elon Musk said his company “had conversations with Apple,” but said he could not comment on “whether those revolved around any kind of acquisition.”
It appears that, in the meantime, the two firms have been busy trying to poach each others’ employees. Tesla has reportedly padded its 6,000-strong ranks with at least 150 former Apple employees since 2010. Cupertino, however, is apparently offering a $250,000 signing bonus and 60 percent salary increase to Tesla employees who join Apple.
