The Financial Post reports in its Thursday edition that the sudden demise of Apple's electric-vehicle program is a bleak sign for the car market. A Bloomberg dispatch to the Post says it also a welcome boon for automakers themselves. Tesla and Detroit's automakers can breathe a sigh of relief after the electronics giant scrapped its car program, eliminating a threat in an EV market where growth is slowing, and providing a pool of talent who may be out of a job. In the past year, Elon Musk has cut prices and warned of slumping demand, while established carmakers such as GM and Ford have delayed investment and pulled back production plans. Now, they have one fewer competitor to worry about in a crowded and uncertain arena, especially a tech company with $61-billion (U.S.) in cash to throw around. Apple exiting the EV market before it really revved up underscores just how tough the business has become. The cars are still too expensive for most consumers and charging is patchy in the United States and Canada. EV sales are expected to rise just 9 per cent this year, after growing at a compounded annual rate of 65 per cent over the past three years. EV start-ups are struggling amid meagre sales and heavy cash burn.