If agreement is reached, up to 100,000 units can be assembled from the first year at Kia Plant in Georgia
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 5th (local time), citing sources, that Kia Motors is in contact with potential partners regarding plans to assemble an’Apple Car’ at its Georgia plant.
Sources familiar with the issue said that Kia Motors’ and Apple’s proposal for self-driving electric vehicle cooperation includes a multi-billion-dollar investment plan, but the negotiations are not yet over.
According to WSJ, Kia Motors’ parent company, Hyundai Motors, invested 3 billion dollars (about 3.4 trillion won) in negotiations with Apple and is discussing ways to start producing cars with the Apple brand as early as 2024.
If an agreement is reached, up to 100,000 units can be assembled at Kia’s Georgia plant from the first year of production, the source said.
In recent years, Hyundai and Kia Motors are known to be in contact with potential production partners in advance in preparation for the possibility of a close negotiation.
One official, who had been reported on the state of Georgia, told WSJ that “I’m listening to encouraging stories.”
However, the newspaper pointed out that Hyundai and Kia are not the only automakers that Apple is talking to about electric vehicles.
It is said that since the end of last year, Apple has started contacting with various suppliers regarding Apple cars.
If Apple chooses Hyundai-Kia Motors as a partner, the WSJ diagnosed that Apple Cars would be similar to the iPhone production method in cooperation with third-party manufacturing partners.
With Apple’s focus on design, software and digital functions, it is estimated that supply chain and automotive engineering can depend on the capabilities of partner companies.
Some believe that Apple will not ultimately rely on only one supplier to enter a new field.
In addition, there is a precedent that Apple has only been rumored with several automakers until now, but eventually faded.
If this negotiation is concluded well, Apple will enter the automobile market in earnest after six years of internally operating the automobile project in 2015.
Prior to the WSJ’s report on the day, CNBC broadcast also reported on the 3rd that the negotiations between Apple and Hyundai-Kia Motors were close to finishing, but a final agreement has not yet been reached.
/yunhap news
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