Bloomberg “Apple-Hyundai to suspend discussions on Apple car cooperation”

Foreign media’Apple Car’ is also confused… Bloomberg “Stop Discussion”
WSJ “Kia Motors, Ready for Production”
Japan’s Keizai Nihon “Apple holds discussions with Japanese companies”

Amid all speculation about the self-driving electric car’Apple Car’, which is known to be under development by Apple, major foreign media are also making mixed observations on the possibility of cooperation between Apple and Kia Motors.

Bloomberg News reported on the 5th (local time), citing multiple sources that Apple recently temporarily suspended consultations on consignment production of’Apple Cars’ which had been conducted with Hyundai Motor Group. The sources, who requested anonymity, said that Apple is discussing similar plans with other automakers besides Hyundai and Kia.

The Apple Car Project, which Apple has been secretly pursuing, has started to accelerate in recent months. Although Apple has not officially confirmed this, Bloomberg said that the recent attitude of Hyundai-Kia Motors indirectly admitting this to the Korean media has made Apple’s mind uncomfortable. According to Bloomberg, Apple has kept its development projects secret for years, and in the process, has over-controlled its relationships with suppliers.

Sources mentioned that it is unclear whether or when discussions between Apple and Kia Motors will resume. However, there are only a handful of global manufacturers with the ability to mass-produce finished vehicles worldwide, and as it is unknown how many automakers are interested in cooperation with Apple, discussions between the two sides may resume. I saw it.

Bloomberg said that even if negotiations resume, the issue could be whether Hyundai or Kia produces Apple cars. In response, sources said, “Kia is more promising, and if Kia Motors takes on consignment production, it will be produced at a plant in Georgia.”

Another issue is how seriously Apple is taking EV production like Tesla and General Motors (GM). Apple recently said, “We are developing a driving system with designers and small engineers, but the development work is only in the early stages,” and said, “It will be difficult to release products within the next five years.” Bloomberg interpreted it as “which soon shows that Apple has more time to decide on potential automotive partners.”

Earlier, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that early this morning, “Kia Motors contacted potential partners for assembly and production of’Apple Cars’ at a plant in Georgia, USA.” Sources familiar with the issue said that Kia Motors and Apple’s proposal for self-driving electric vehicle cooperation includes multi-billion-dollar investment plans, but the negotiations are not over.

According to WSJ, Hyundai Motor Company is discussing ways to start producing Apple cars from 2024 by investing 3 billion dollars (about 3.4 trillion won) in negotiations with Apple. In the first year of production, up to 100,000 units can be assembled at Kia’s Georgia plant, a source said.

However, WSJ said that Apple is not only discussing electric car production with Hyundai and Kia. It is said that since the end of last year, Apple has begun contacting with various suppliers regarding Apple cars. Some believe that Apple will not rely on only one supplier to enter a new field.

The day before, Japan’s Nihon Geizai Shimbun quoted an official from an Apple parts supplier and reported that “Apple is in consultation with at least six companies in Japan (related to the consignment production of Apple cars).” These six companies are major Japanese automakers, including Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Subaru.

Previously, CNBC broadcast also said on the 3rd that the negotiations between Apple and Hyundai and Kia Motors were nearing the final stage, but a final agreement has not been reached.