Buying Tesla would be insane for Apple but bying Ford wouldn't be much less insane. Ford has a huge existing product range that Apple cannot really shape but would still have to support.
If Apple needs auto manufacturing/design know-how they should look at a small company like Volvo or Jaguar.
I agree. I don't actually think it would make sense for Apple to buy Ford. I just used Ford as an example because its market cap is roughly the same as Tesla's.
Ford is tightly owned by the Ford family who control 40% of voting rights in the company. They are unlikely to want to sell or relinquish that control.
Theoretically it would be possible to buy the company without their support - but it would be extremely costly and unlikely.
If Apple needs auto manufacturing/design know-how they should look at a small company like Volvo or Jaguar.