Apple and Hyundai will collaborate for the forthcoming Apple Car by March, according to a report by Reuters, citing Korea IT News.
Before being revised, the Korea IT News report claimed that the companies may either produce the electric vehicles at a Georgia factory owned by Kia Motors, a Hyundai Motor Group affiliate or invest in a new facility in the United States that could manufacture almost 400,000 vehicles yearly. The report mentions of a “beta version” of the Apple Car to be released in 2022 too.
Last month, Reuters reported that Apple Car production may start around 2024, and that time frame was reconfirmed in today’s report. A 2024 start of production could be little ambitious, as according to a report from Bloomberg last week, Apple Car isn’t anywhere near the production stage and could be ready within five to seven years.
Rumours about Apple negotiating with Hyundai first surfaced last week, implying that Apple is planning to collaborate with the automaker to produce electric vehicles and develop batteries due to the high costs of the technology and the requisite production facilities.
Hyundai previously confirmed its electric vehicle talks with Apple in a statement to CNBC, but the statement was revised hours later with no mention of Apple.
