- hyundai and apple may be currently in talks to partner on building the apple car, according to the korea economic daily.
- apple would depend on hyundai to build the vehicle and also develop the batteries going into it; it is said to be slated for a 2027 launch.
- rumors about the apple car have swirled for the better part of the last five years, but if this partnership were to come into place, it would be a significant step forward for the endeavor.
hyundai is reportedly in talks to partner with apple to build an autonomous electric vehicle, a project currently known as the apple car, according to the korea economic daily. hyundai initially confirmed the talks with apple, but then later walked back that statement, now only saying that it has received requests to work with several different companies, according to bloomberg. hyundai has responded to car and driver's request for comment and apple declined to comment. apple is highly secretive about future products, which could help explain why hyundai revised its statement confirming the talks with apple.
according to the korean publication, apple is said to be looking to hyundai not only to build the vehicles but to develop the batteries to go in them. the media outlet also said that the apple car is set to be launched in 2027. late last year, reuters had reported that the apple car would be coming in 2024 and that it would be a personal, mass-market vehicle.
bloomberg confirmed the 2027 timeline in a separate report, citing people familiar with the matter, saying it will take apple at least half a decade to launch this vehicle. the tech company has dedicated a team of engineers to developing a drive system, along with designing the interior and exterior of the vehicle, bloomberg said. although the team at apple dedicated to this project has waxed and waned in the past, apple’s hiring of engineers with experience at companies such as tesla and bmw along with many others suggest that the tech company is re-interested in developing the apple car.
bloomberg also reported that apple is developing the car's software, sensor hardware, and chip technology for autonomous driving. the goal is for the vehicle to completely drive itself, only requiring the driver—or essentially, rider—to input the destination when they get into the vehicle.
rumors of an apple car have been circulating for years now; car and driver reported in 2016 that bmw was in on the project, but it wasn’t clear in what capacity.