Extra particulars have emerged about Apple’s alleged curiosity in engaged on a self-driving electrical automobile in partnership with Hyundai Motor. A report from native newspaper Korea IT Information (through Reuters) at the moment means that Hyundai and Apple plan to signal a partnership deal by March of this yr.
Apple Automotive and Hyundai
Right this moment’s report comes after a spokesperson for Hyundai final week confirmed that it’s in talks with Apple relating to a possible Apple Automotive manufacturing deal. “We perceive that Apple is in dialogue with quite a lot of international automakers, together with Hyundai Motor,” an organization spokesperson mentioned on the time. “Because the dialogue is at its early stage, nothing has been determined.”
Korea IT Information says that Hyundai and Apple are aiming to succeed in a deal for autonomous electrical automobiles by as early as March 2021. Manufacturing may then start “as early as 2024 in the US.” The report cites trade sources and says Apple and Hyundai would construct the automobiles on the Kia Motors think about Georgia, or “collectively put money into a brand new manufacturing unit in the US.”
The 2 plan corporations hope to supply 100,000 autos in 2024, ultimately reaching annual capability of 400,000. The report provides {that a} “beta model” of Apple Automotive may start testing subsequent yr.
The timeline prompt by this Korea IT Information report is kind of aggressive, and has been questioned by different sources equivalent to Bloomberg and Ming-Chi Kuo. Following reporting from Reuters final month that prompt Apple Automotive may start manufacturing in 2024, Kuo indicated {that a} launch may very well be in 2028 or later.
Lastly, a report from Bloomberg simply this previous week indicated that an Apple Automotive launch is a minimum of 5-7 years away. That being mentioned, Apple is reportedly increasing the Apple Automotive group at a speedy tempo with engineers, former Tesla executives, and designers.
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