A new report indicates Apple Car production would be handled by Hyundai’s Kia brand, at its U.S. factory in Georgia.
Korea’s eDaily today said that Hyundai plans to move the project over to Kia, which could see manufacturing take place at its Georgia plant.
It is known that the Hyundai Motor Group, which received a proposal from Apple for electric vehicle-related cooperation, has internally arranged that Kia Motors is in charge of this project. If Kia decides to do this, the Apple car production base will be at Kia’s Georgia plant in the US.
The report says discussions took place on Tuesday between Kia and parent company Hyundai about “Apple Car cooperation,” and that the project could be carried out at Kia’s West Point plant, which would “facilitate cooperation with Apple.”
The report says that despite previous reports that Hyundai would likely handle Apple Car manufacturing, the South Korean automaker has decided that it isn’t a suitable option for the Apple Car, due to the carmaker’s “strong will” to continue the Hyundai brand, and distaste of becoming an “OEM factory” for Apple cars. The report notes that Hyundai is “still cautious,” and that the move has not yet been finalized.
A January 8 report claimed Apple and Hyundai are in talks to work together in building the Cupertino firm’s Apple Car. The report indicated that Apple is in negotiations with the Korean carmaker to not only manufacture an electric car but to also develop batteries, due to the “enormous costs” of the technology and the production facilities required.
While Hyundai initially confirmed the discussions in a statement to CNBC, but revised the statement shortly after to include no mention of Apple.
Conflicting reports have been released over the last month or so, with Reuters claiming Apple Car production could kickoff around 2024, soon followed by a Bloomberg report that the Apple Car won’t be ready for production for another five to seven years.
