Volkswagen CEO “I am not afraid of Apple and electric car competition”

Input 2021.02.15 11:30

CNN reported on the 14th (local time) that Herbert Dys, the CEO of Volkswagen, Germany, said that competition with Apple, which is preparing to launch an electric self-driving car, is “not afraid”.

According to CNN, Dis said in an interview with German media Frankfurter Algmaine Chaitung (FAZ), “The automotive industry is not a general technology sector that can be acquired at once,” and “Apple cannot do it overnight.”

Automotive industry experts have predicted over the past several years that Apple will release self-developed electric self-driving cars. Apple’s approval of self-driving cars in April 2017 from California authorities also fueled this prospect.

Finally, in December of last year, news that Apple plans to produce an electric car, Apple Car or I-Car in 2024, was reported, and some media reported that South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company and Kia are planning to sign a production contract with Apple and Apple.

However, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia announced on the 8th (Korean perspective) that “there is not proceeding with discussions on the development of autonomous vehicles with Apple.”

Some pointed out that Apple wants a subcontractor who will only be in charge of production without sharing software technology. It is an analysis that it wants an automobile company to act as Foxconn, a Taiwanese company that consigns Apple iPhones.

In this regard, CNN said on the 8th, “Being a copy of (Foxcon’s) is something that major automakers want to avoid,” and said that Apple doesn’t seem to have many options. Apple has not yet issued an official position on Apple cars.

Volkswagen is also aiming to grow in the electric vehicle field. According to data released by Volkswagen in January, last year, Volkswagen sold 231600 battery electric vehicles. Although less than half of last year’s Tesla sales volume, it is a 214% increase compared to the previous year.