Apple Car could be made by Japanese company, 'at least six' manufacturers in play
What you need to know
- A new report says Apple is in negotiations with at least six carmakers, including some Japanese firms about making an Apple Car.
- Kia and Hyundai seem to be frontrunners for a deal, but Apple may be considering multiple options or alternatives should a deal fall through.
A new report says that Apple is negotiating with 'at least' six car companies about producing an Apple Car, including some Japanese firms that might have the capacity to adopt the project.
From Nikkei.com:
That "division of labor" could be key to who takes Apple up on any potential offer. As explained by Bloomberg:
Apple was recently rumored to be close to finalizing a deal with Hyundai and Hyundai-owned Kia to the tune of $3.6 billion that would see Kia produce 100,000 vehicles a year at its West Point plant in Georgia, US.
Another report this morning states Kia is looking for manufacturing partners to help create an Apple Car, and it seems increasingly likely Apple could work to produce the same vehicle through multiple automakers if it can find willing partners.
Apple is expected to debut a new autonomous electric vehicle as early as 2025.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!
Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9