South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Corp said on Monday they are not in talks with Apple Inc on developing autonomous vehicles, sending their shares tumbling.
In early January, Korea Economic Daily TV reported Apple and Hyundai were in discussions to develop self-driving electric vehicles by 2027 and develop batteries at U.S. factories operated by either Hyundai or its affiliate Kia Corp.
So this year, Hyundai’s shares advanced 30%, while Kia has rallied 63% on reports they may build Apple car, reports Hindustan Times.
Apple has never acknowledged talks with the automaker about building vehicles.
Early reports said in December that Apple was moving forward with autonomous car technology and aimed to produce a passenger vehicle that could include its own breakthrough battery technology as early as 2024.
