Among the numerous anecdotes and curiosities surrounding the iconic figures of the tech world, few are as intriguing as those involving Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple. His unique and revolutionary approach was reflected not only in the products he created but also in some peculiar aspects of his personal life, such as his determination not to have a license plate on his Mercedes. But how did Jobs manage such a feat without infringing the law?
A legal loophole in California, albeit an expensive one to exploit
The key to the mystery lies in a small legal loophole found in the regulations of the state of California. The law offers a grace period of six months during which new vehicles can circulate without a license plate. This period, intended to give new owners time to regularize their situation, became the perfect solution for Steve Jobs.
The Apple co-founder, as reported by CNET, established a unique agreement with a car dealership, which provided him with a new Mercedes SL 55 AMG every six months. This arrangement allowed Jobs to avoid associating his vehicle with a set of letters and numbers while ensuring he would always drive a new car, all without straying from legality.
This curious agreement raises questions about the fate of the vehicles previously used by Jobs. It's tempting to speculate whether the dealership managed to capitalize on Jobs's fame, offering these "semi-new" Mercedes with the added allure of having been driven by a tech legend. We will probably never know.
Undoubtedly, small stories like these or why Apple is called Apple, are further testament to the unique character of the Apple co-founder and his ability to "think different". Creative solutions, even for the most mundane challenges. Once again, Steve Jobs showed that his influence extended beyond the creation of innovative products, leaving a mark even on the smallest details of his everyday life.
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