SEOUL (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor and Apple Inc. plan to sign a collaboration agreement on autonomous electric cars before March and start production by 2024 in the United States, local newspaper Korea IT News reported on Sunday.
The report follows a statement from Hyundai Motor on Friday that it was in initial talks with Apple after another local media outlet said the companies were aiming to launch a self-driving electric car in 2027, which led to shares of Hyundai would increase by almost 20%.
Hyundai Motor declined to comment on the report on Sunday and reiterated Friday’s comments that it has received requests for potential cooperation from several companies in the development of autonomous electric vehicles.
Apple made no immediate comment.
An updated version of the IT news report removed details, including the location and production capacity and the deadline for signing the agreement and launching the pilot vehicles.
The previous version said the companies planned to build the cars at the Kia Motors factory in Georgia or jointly invest in a new factory in the United States to produce 100,000 vehicles by 2024. The total annual capacity of the proposed plant would be 400,000 vehicles. .
Kia Motors is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor.
The report also said Hyundai and Apple planned to launch a “beta version” of Apple’s cars next year.
Reuters reported last month that Apple was advancing with autonomous car technology and aimed to produce a passenger vehicle that could include its own advanced battery technology as early as 2024.
Hyunjoo Jin Reports; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Barbara Lewis