Interest is focused on whether the Hyundai Motor Group will put its power on the self-driving electric car’Apple Car,’ which is being developed with the aim of launching in 2024 as early as Apple. The market is responding enthusiastically to the news that Apple, an information technology (IT) company, can create electric vehicles in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group. The key is whether or not the actual collaboration will be established. First of all, Hyundai Motor Group is showing a very cautious attitude.
On the 8th, the Hyundai Motor Group said through an unusual disclosure, “A number of companies are receiving requests for joint development of autonomous electric vehicles, but they have not been decided in an early stage.” I will do it.”
Not only are there many companies other than Apple that request cooperation regarding self-driving electric vehicles, but it is true that Apple has reached out to Hyundai before developing the Apple car, but it is currently in the early stage of review, and nothing has been specifically confirmed.
However, the industry believes that Apple, which is trying to develop electric vehicles, and self-driving eco-friendly vehicles, could not have avoided the Hyundai Motor Group, which focuses on future mobility technologies.
Hyundai Motor Company has already secured semi-autonomous driving technology and has pledged to release a conditional autonomous vehicle (autonomous driving level 3) that can run without the driver holding the steering wheel starting next year. In addition, in the US, it is also aiming for an unmanned taxi business based on’Motional’, a corporation established in cooperation with Aptiv, an autonomous driving company.
In particular, Hyundai Motor Group unveiled its own production platform for electric vehicles, the’E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform)’ for the first time in the beginning of last month. Accordingly, this year, Hyundai Motor Group plans to release 23 electric vehicles by 2025 and sell more than 1 million electric vehicles annually to the global market by producing a number of new electric vehicles, including’Ioniq 5,’ according to the new platform.
The industry’s judgment is that Apple is paying attention to the Hyundai Motor Group as the battery excellence that Hyundai Motor Company is putting out, starting with E-GMP. Unlike the 400V charging system used by other electric vehicles, E-GMP applies a’multi-quick charging’ system that uses both 400V and 800V, so it charges 80% in 18 minutes, which is 30 minutes shorter than other electric vehicles with an ultra-fast charger. This is possible.
Hyundai Motor Company is also raising its global market share in the electric vehicle sector. According to market research firm SNE Research’s 2020 forecast, Hyundai Motor Group is expected to rank fourth with 7.2%, following Tesla 17.5%, Volkswagen Group 12.9%, Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi 8.2%.
It is analyzed that the reason why Apple could not pass the Hyundai Motor Group, one of the’Big 5’as it reached out to multiple electric car makers, was not only because of Hyundai Motor’s excellent electric vehicle performance but also its growing global market share. Above all, it can be interpreted that Apple is working together to secure battery technology, a key component, while producing next-generation electric vehicles.
The industry predicts that if the cooperation between Apple, which is considered Tesla’s potential competitors, and Hyundai Motor Group are finalized, Hyundai Motor Group will quickly become the leader in the electric car market in all aspects, including productivity and technology. However, it is expected that it will start in the form of technology cooperation rather than the form of cooperation in which huge capital comes and goes.
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