‘Apple Car Partner’ wrapped in a veil
GM, Honda, Nissan, PSA, etc.
“Bargaining with at least 6 companies”
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Apple Hyundai Motor (005380)It is known that negotiations with other automakers such as the United States, Europe, and Japan are underway while the group has stopped discussing Apple car development. In particular, as Apple, which emphasizes secrecy, has made the disclosure of the Hyundai Motor Group’s negotiations as an issue, it is expected to proceed with negotiations with other companies emphasizing Ham Gu-ryeong. Some predict that it will take a considerable amount of time for Apple to finalize the partner.
Recently, the Nippon Geizai Shimbun reported that Apple seems to have attempted to produce electric vehicles (EV) with multiple automakers including Japanese companies. Nikkei quoted an executive in the industry and said, “It is the stage of negotiating where (Apple) will make it,” and “Bargaining with at least six companies is in progress.” The executive said, “It may be decided as a Korean company,” and responded that it was premature to some reports that negotiations with Apple and Hyundai Motor Group were in the final stage.
In particular, Nikkei noted that the research base established by Apple in Yokohama city seems to have become a contact point with Japanese automakers and parts suppliers. Japanese companies negotiating with Apple include Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Mazda.
In addition to Japanese automakers, Apple is expected to have contacted with Tesla, General Motors (GM) in the US, and PSA in Europe. After the launch of the Apple car, Ming-chi Guo, an analyst at Taiwan TF Securities, who is considered an Apple expert, predicted that there is a possibility that Apple will work on a follow-up model in partnership with GM or European PSA.
In this regard, Bloomberg reported that the industry is raising questions about whether Apple really needs cooperation with Tesla, GM and other EV makers to launch its own electric car, and how seriously it takes it. In addition, as the size of the EV-related organization in Apple is small and working in the early stages, it may take up to five years to launch its own Apple car, and as a result, it is expected that it will take longer for Apple to decide on a potential partner.
/ Reporter Noh Hee-young [email protected]
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