For Apple fans, who have been looking forward to the rumors for a long time Apple car to make myself a reality, I have good news and bad news. The good news: Word is that Apple has been chatting with Hyundai and Kia about collaborating on an electric vehicle. The bad news: these conversations have apparently stalled.
People familiar with the matter said that Apple recently paused in its discussions with the two Korean carmakers, for Friday Bloomberg report. Sources, who spoke to the outlet on condition of anonymity, added that Apple has also been attacking other carmakers for similar plans.
It is unclear whether discussions with Kia and Hyundai will resume or when it may be. Apple declined Bloomberg’s request for comment. Gizmodo has contacted Apple, Kia and Hyundai and will update this blog if they respond.
Rumors about Apple working on a autonomous electric vehicle, which he called Project Titan, has been circulating since 2014. But rumors have escalated in recent weeks following an alleged drama between Hyundai, which owns a controlling stake in Kia, and Apple.
You see, Hyundai executives apparently have a bit too excited after Apple approached them to work together on an electric car and rechargeable batteries, and he spilled the beans on the proposal to the local media: a sacrilegious offense for a company as well known as Apple. Shortly after Hyundai said it was reviewing Apple’s proposal, the company backed down and issued a new statement saying several global automakers, including Hyundai, were in initial talks with Apple about a possible partnership. . But back then, Hyundai apparently thought and stepped back even further to be sure, rubbing all mentions of Apple in an updated statement.
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Some details about the possible association have emerged, though it goes without saying that they should be taken with a grain of salt. In January, Reuters, citing a report from local media Korea IT News, stated that Hyundai and Apple had planned to sign an agreement on the project before March. The report stated that the project would aim to produce 100,000 cars by approximately 2024, manufacturing the vehicles at a Kia Motors factory in Georgia or at a new US facility. Going forward, the plant would be able to produce 400,000 cars at full capacity annually. According to the report, a “beta version” of the Apple car would have been released next year.
It does not appear that the parties involved were too interested in these details being published, however, as an update wiped out most of the report, according to Reuters. It is unclear how Apple would affect these guidelines to these potential timelines.
We previously theorized that Hyundai may have burned bridges with Apple by talking too soon about the proposal, and this recent turn of events seems to support that. Apple may or may not be launching these talks for now to focus on buying another partner, but if so, we definitely have an idea of why.
[Bloomberg]