Hyundai Motor Group reported on Friday that the production of the so-called Apple Car was a possible partnership in talks with Apple.
A Hyundai spokesperson said Cupertino had suggested partnerships with a range of global car manufacturers for the introduction of an electric car, and Hyundai Motors had had discussions.
They emphasized, though, that little had been finalized and that the pair remained in the early stages of the negotiations.
South Korean news media Hankyung said in a story that Hyundai had already finished evaluating Apple’s plan. All that was required to launch the partnership was for Hyundai Chairman Chung Eui-sun to sign the contract, the report said.
The partnership between Apple and Hyundai will include the manufacture of electric cars and the construction of the battery to be used, Hankyung said. The goal will be to deliver the car in 2027, the study said.
Last month, Reuters announced that Apple was preparing to start manufacturing its own electric car in 2024. The company’s on-again, off-the-shelf Titan Project has renewed momentum after Cupertino brought both Tesla and Apple veteran Doug Field to take over operations in 2018, according to the article.
Sources told Reuters that the main factor was a revolutionary battery architecture that could dramatically reduce the cost of batteries and expand the range of the car.
Hyundai is currently buying the batteries it uses for its electric vehicles from local vendors LG Energy Solution and SK Invention. Yet the automotive company has previously stated that it is designing next-generation batteries on its own.
Hyundai President Chung, who was appointed to the post in October last year, said in his inaugural address that the conglomerate is aiming to develop “the world’s most innovative autonomous driving technology in the world”
