FT press… Nissan stops discussing cooperation with Apple
Volkswagen “I’m not afraid to compete with Apple”
It is reported that Nissan has halted discussions of Ica cooperation with Apple. Photo = AP
‘Innovation icon’ Apple is showing a stride to find a partner for developing electric vehicles.
According to the Financial Times (FT) on the 15th, Nissan stopped discussing the recent cooperation with Apple for its self-driving electric vehicle’Icar’. It is reported that the discussion of cooperation has not progressed to the level of senior management.
The main reason for the breakdown of the negotiations was pointed out as the so-called’gap’ that stems from Apple’s gaining leadership. Apple is said to have asked Nissan to act as a subcontractor that manufactures and supplies Icars. Sources explained that Apple had demanded control of iCar’s software as well as hardware.
The logic is that if iCars are produced at the Nissan factory, it should not be a method of mounting the Apple operating system’iOS’ on Nissan vehicles, but rather an iCar like Foxconn assembled and delivered the iPhone and iPad.
Nissan is said to have ended a brief discussion of cooperation in response to Apple’s request. On the 9th, Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida hoped to cooperate with Apple enough to mention that “we must cooperate through partnerships and collaborations with knowledgeable and experienced companies”, but these conditions will be discussed by senior management. It is said that it was judged to be of no value.
It is known that Hyundai-Kia Motors, who previously discussed cooperation with Apple and I-Car, quit negotiations for the same reason. Hyundai-Kia Motors announced on the 8th that they are not discussing with Apple regarding the production of’Apple Car’.
Although the specific reason for the suspension of negotiations has not been disclosed, the industry believes that Apple’s request to take only vehicles without sharing technology is the cause of the breakdown of negotiations. It is said that there is no reason for a finished car manufacturer with the technology of electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles to be a simple subcontractor.
Volkswagen, which had been discussed the possibility of a maker for Apple’s Icar cooperation, dismissed the possibility of cooperation, saying, “I am not afraid of competition between Apple and electric cars.”
Herbert Dys, CEO of Volkswagen Germany, said in an interview with German media Frankfurter Algemaine Chaitung (FAZ) on the previous day. He expressed his intention to compete.
Regarding Apple’s repeated failures to collaborate with automakers, CNN pointed out that “being a copy of (Foxcon’s) is something that major automakers want to avoid.”
Sesung Oh, reporter of Hankyung.com [email protected]
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