UPDATE: McLaren has issued a statement, rejecting the report and denying any discussions with Apple about a potential investment. A separate report from the New York Times also indicates Apple is in talks to acquire Lit Motors, a startup working on a self-balancing motorcycle. (Apple declined to comment, as did Lit Motors.) (Via 9to5Mac)
A Financial Times report claims Apple is mulling over an acquisition of supercar manufacturer McLaren. The Cupertino firm is said to be in takeover talks with the high-end car maker in order to assist its own much-rumored automobile efforts.
In McLaren, Apple may be interested in expertise and talent relating to car materials and “on-board computer systems”. The FT says an acquisition would be valued around a $1.5 billion dollars; McLaren currently records yearly losses.
Apple’s vehicle is rumored to be a 100% electric effort, and McLaren has already stated that it too wants to build an electric car, modeled on their P1 or P1 GTR platforms. The company announced earlier this year that by the end of a six-year timeframe, at least half of its lineup will feature hybrid technology, and that it also hopes to build an all-electric car.
Apple’s electric car has been rumored to be set for a launch around the year 2020, although the group working on the electric vehicle project, codenamed “Project Titan,” is reported to have gone through a number of personnel changes and leadership shakeups. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that longtime, and formerly retired, Apple executive Bob Mansfield is now in place as the project’s lead, replacing a departed Steve Zadesky.
