For Apple fans eagerly awaiting the long rumors Apple car to become reality, I have good news and bad news. The good news: Apple is talking to Hyundai and Kia about partnering on an electric car. The bad news: Those conversations have apparently stalled.
People familiar with the matter said Apple recently took a break from talks with the two Korean automakers on Friday. Bloomberg report. The sources, speaking with the outlet under the condition of anonymity, added that Apple has also sued other automakers for similar plans.
It is unclear whether talks with Kia and Hyundai will resume or when possible. Apple declined Bloomberg’s request for comment. Gizmodo has reached out to Apple, Kia and Hyundai and will update this blog if they respond.
Rumors that Apple is working on one self-driving electric vehicle, which it dubbed Project Titan, was already circulating in 2014. But the rumor mill has been ramping up in recent weeks following an alleged drama between Hyundai, which owns a majority stake in Kia, and Apple.
You see, Hyundai’s execs have apparently gotten a bit to excited after Apple approached them to collaborate on an electric car and rechargeable batteries, and spilled the beans on the proposal to local media – a sacrilegious offense for a company as notoriously closed-mouthed as Apple. Shortly after Hyundai claimed it was overhauling Apple’s proposal, the company angrily backed out and issued a new statement saying several global automakers, including Hyundai, were in early talks with Apple about a possible partnership. But then, apparently, Hyundai had a second thought and went even further back, just to be on the safe side, dropping all of Apple’s mentions in an updated statement.
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A few details about the potential partnership have emerged, although it goes without saying that they should be taken with a grain of salt. In January, Reutersciting a report from local media Korea IT News, stated that Hyundai and Apple planned to sign a deal on the project by March. The report claimed the project would aim to produce 100,000 cars by about 2024, with the vehicles being produced at a Kia Motors plant in Georgia or a brand-new US plant. In the future, the plant would be able to produce 400,000 cars at full annual capacity. According to the report, a “beta” version of the Apple car would be released next year.
However, it doesn’t seem like the parties involved were overly keen on getting these details out, as an update wiped most of it out of the report, Reuters said. It’s unclear how Apple pausing these discussions would affect these potential timelines.
We have theorized before that Hyundai may have burned bridges with Apple by silencing the proposal too early, and this recent turn of events certainly seems to support that. Apple may or may not stop these conversations for now to focus on looking around for another partner, but if so, we definitely have an idea why.
[Bloomberg]