When the tech giant’s plans to hit the highways were first floated, reports suggested a prototype could appear around 2020. As experts like BMW have pointed out, the process from concept to physical reality can take at least five years. However, for a company with no experience in auto manufacturing, that timetable could be too optimistic. “We believe the auto industry represents a significant opportunity for Apple, but we also expect Apple to be deliberate as always in its product development and testing,” said Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray, in a note this week.