Tim Cook (Photo : Reuters)
Apple is getting into the luxury market in a huge wave with its latest Watch; however some of its shareholders wanted something more drastic and bigger like acquiring Tesla. A shareholder voiced out to Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, aspiring to buy Tesla.
Cook did not actually responded matter-of-factly to the given question but rather pointed out that he wanted to see Tesla push through with the electric automobile plans.
"We don't really have a relationship with Tesla ... I'd love Tesla to pick up CarPlay," Cook reportedly said, a reference to the in-car version of Apple's iOS mobile operating system. "Was that a good way to avoid the question?" Cook added, according to Wired.com.
Cook was hammered with questions about the possibility of a partnership with Tesla Motors. Few shareholders kept on peppering the Apple CEO with the idea of buying Tesla but nothing clear about it was mentioned except that Apple is more focused on CarPlay.
Elon Musk, Tesla Motors' CEO, has disclosed last year that he had a "conversation" with Apple but the subject of such conversation was not even made clear, and that he could not comment if that was about any kind of acquisition.
The two giant companies have trying to poach each other's employees; Tesla has reportedly expanded its 6,000-strong ranks with around 150 ex-Apple employees since 2010. The Cupertino company, however, is apparently offering a $250,000 signing bonus plus a 60 percent salary increase to Tesla employees who will get on board with Apple, PC Mag reported.
