[M 오토데일리 이상원기자] Nissan Motor Company of Japan publicly announced that it is willing to cooperate with Apple, while negotiations for the production of the self-driving electric car’i-car’ between Hyundai and Kia Motors and Apple have been temporarily suspended.
Apple, which is looking for a partner for Apple car production, is predicting that it will determine a partner within the first half of this year, and automakers are in earnest on the Apple car.
According to Japanese media reports, Nissan Motor’s President Makoto Uchida said at a video press conference on the 9th quarterly earnings announcement that Hyundai Motor and Apple had halted the I-Car manufacturing negotiations, saying, “Technology is remodeling the automobile industry. At this time, we have to take a new initiative,” he said. “We must cooperate with companies with rich knowledge and experience through partnerships and cooperation.”
Nissan Motors is not currently negotiating manufacturing with Apple, but it is interpreted that it has expressed a willingness to actively pursue the I-Car production project if given the opportunity.
Japan’s Nikkei Shimbun reported that Apple may not rely on only one supplier and is also discussing discussions with Japanese automakers, after news that Hyundai Motor and Apple had ceased to produce Apple cars. Expectations for car production are growing.
Some analysts say that Nissan, the most open to external cooperation, is the most likely candidate to seriously discuss manufacturing cooperation with Apple.
It is analyzed that it has the most advanced technology in the electric vehicle sector, such as the launch of the world’s first commercial electric vehicle, the Leaf, and as it operates assembling factories in various regions such as the United States, it has a consignment manufacturing position comparable to that of Hyundai and Kia.
In addition, in relation to the Aika production partnership, a French media recently reported Nissan. Renault Motors, which has an alliance with Mitsubishi Motors, reported that there is a growing possibility of partnering with Apple, and Renault shares have surpassed $40, which had not been achieved since December 2019.
On the other hand, AppleInsider cited the’Securities Report’ of the US investment bank’s Webbush on the 9th (local time), and said that Apple will officially announce the manufacturing partners of Apple’s iCar in the first half of this year.
The report said that Apple is expected to confirm a partner to manufacture Icar within a few months, and candidates include Hyundai Motor Company and Volkswagen.
According to the report, Apple predicted that it is more than 85% likely to officially announce a partnership agreement with its EV production partner within the next 3-6 months.
The background is that, as GM (General Motors) and Ford Motors are showing strong commitment to the electric vehicle market recently, US President Joe Biden is also emphasizing the benefits of environmentally responsive vehicles, so the first half of this year is judged as the’best time’.
The report explained that although negotiations between Apple and Hyundai Motor Company are currently suspended, Hyundai Motor Company’s production platform’E-GMP’ is still the most’suitable’ for Apple.
If negotiations with Hyundai Motors do not resume, Volkswagen is expected to be the most promising alternative. The reason is that Volkswagen’s modular electric vehicle platform is suitable for the new Apple self-driving electric vehicle model.
Anyway, the controversy is expected to continue until Apple confirms a consignment production alliance partner.
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