Eui-sun Chung, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group-Apple CEO Tim Cook / Photo = Yonhap News, EPA
Hyundai Motor Group and Apple are discussing ways to develop self-driving electric vehicles together and cooperate in the production process. It is observed that if the alliance between the two sides becomes a reality, it will become a’game changer’ that will shake the global automobile market.
According to the industry on the 8th, Apple recently proposed to the Hyundai Motor Group to discuss cooperation plans related to the development and production of’Apple Cars’. It is reported that the Hyundai Motor Group is reviewing Apple’s proposal internally. On the same day, Hyundai Motor Company and Hyundai Mobis announced that “a number of companies have received requests for cooperation in joint development of self-driving electric vehicles, but this has not been decided at an early stage.”
Apple has been operating the future car plan’Project Titan’ since 2014. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook (CEO) officially announced in a 2017 media interview that he is developing an autonomous vehicle. The industry believes that it is necessary to collaborate with automakers to improve vehicle quality while Apple aims to launch Apple cars in 2024 as early as possible. In this process, it is an analysis that the production capacity and technology of Hyundai Motor Company, which has a factory in the United States, were highly appreciated.
When Hyundai Motor Group and Apple join hands, the EV platform can be shared. The Hyundai Motor Group recently developed an electric vehicle exclusive platform (E-GMP), and plans to launch an electric vehicle using it from this year. It is also possible to jointly develop software for autonomous vehicles. There are also observations that it will manufacture next-generation electric vehicle batteries together. The industry predicts that if Apple, a software powerhouse, and Hyundai Motor Group, equipped with automobile mass production technology, join forces, it will be possible to create synergies beyond expectations. In the battery sector, the possibility of cooperation between Apple and Hyundai Motor Company is being raised.
Lim Eun-young, a researcher at Samsung Securities, said, “If the Hyundai Motor Group supplies the electric vehicle platform to Apple, we can lead the global electric vehicle ecosystem and raise related technologies in the process of developing vehicle software with Apple.” It will be an opportunity for the industry to grow to the next level.”
Apple to collaborate with Hyundai Motor Company with’E-GMP’ for electric car production
Together with the development of SW and battery, we emerge as a global future car powerhouse
A plan for a global super-large information technology (IT) company and a global’Big 5’automobile company to join hands to lead the future automobile market is being discussed. This is when Apple proposes to the Hyundai Motor Group to develop self-driving electric vehicles together.
The Hyundai Motor Group responded cautiously, saying that nothing has been decided yet, but the industry is already paying attention to the synergy between the two companies. There is also an expectation that the’Hyundai Motor-Apple alliance’ will be able to take the lead in the EV and autonomous vehicle markets from Tesla.
Will IT dinosaurs join hands with the world’s top five companies?
According to the automobile industry on the 8th, Hyundai Motor Group and Apple are discussing ways to jointly develop self-driving electric vehicles. Whether or not the alliance between the two companies will be reached has yet to be confirmed, but analysts say that it is possible in the industry. Cooperation with automakers is essential for Apple to produce self-driving electric vehicles.
Only a few have the technology to cooperate with Apple, including Hyundai Motor Group, Volkswagen, and General Motors (GM). An industry insider said, “Since automobiles must ensure the safety of passengers, the ability to develop software is not everything.” Tesla, the world’s No. 1 electric car company, has not yet been able to solve the problem of vehicle defects, so it is unrealistic for the latecomer, Apple, to independently develop cars.
The Hyundai Motor Group is one of the global automakers that actively invest in electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles. Last year, it ranked 4th in electric car sales, and from this year onwards, it will release electric cars with a dedicated platform (E-GMP). The annual mass production capacity of 8 million units and stable parts affiliates such as Hyundai Mobis are also mentioned as strengths.
However, as Apple has proposed cooperation with other automakers other than the Hyundai Motor Group, observations are raised that the two companies may disagree in the process of discussion. The Hyundai Motor Group announced its official position, saying, “We are receiving requests for cooperation in joint development of self-driving electric vehicles from various companies, but nothing has been decided in the early stages. Apple has not made an official position.
Cooperation from battery to platform possible
There are many ways for Hyundai Motor Group and Apple to collaborate. A typical example is supplying the electric vehicle platform developed by the Hyundai Motor Group to Apple. Lim Eun-young, a researcher at Samsung Securities, said, “In the future, the big 5 cars will compete over how many dedicated platforms they sell. If we supply E-GMP to Apple, the Hyundai Motor Group can achieve economies of scale, You will also secure the image that you received.”
We cannot rule out the possibility that Apple will entrust the production of cars to Hyundai Motor Group. The manufacturer development production (ODM) method is discussed. Some industry observers say that Apple’s automobiles can be consigned at one of the US’s Hyundai Motor Company Alabama plant and Kia Motors’ Georgia plant.
There is also room for joint development of future car technology. Vehicle software and electric vehicle batteries are discussed. The importance of software in the automotive industry is increasing. Electronic equipment (electrical equipment) installed in vehicles is on the rise. Tesla’s leadership in the global electric vehicle market is dominated by analysis that it is thanks to its own operating system, which made the car a’moving smartphone’.
When the era of future cars comes, the speed of change is likely to become even faster. Electric vehicles are easier to use electricity than internal combustion locomotives, so high-performance software can be applied, and ultra-high-performance software is essential for autonomous vehicles to operate safely.
Apple and Hyundai Motor Group could develop electric vehicle batteries together. Apple wants to develop a battery that increases the mileage and lowers the production cost, and the Hyundai Motor Group is also researching a more stable all-solid-state battery. There are also ways to mobilize power in the field of infotainment (a system that provides entertainment and information in vehicles).
In the industry, it is observed that if the cooperation between the two companies is successful, it will be possible to create synergies beyond expectations. An industry insider said, “Hyundai Motor and Apple can make up for each other’s shortcomings, so if they come together, it is highly likely to lead the global future car market.”
Reporter Do Byeong-wook [email protected]