We have previously told you about the Apple car project code mentioned “Project Titan.” Rumors began more than a decade ago when Steve Jobs played with the idea, as confirmed by Mickey Drexler, a former member of the Apple Council (via Fast Company). Forward quickly to our timeline at this time and Apple moved closer to making his dream car come true. Even though Apple keeps it silent, we know that it will be an autonomous vehicle with the latest AI technology.
However, we all know that Apple has no experience in building a car, and that may be one of the reasons why it takes a long time to uncover the car to the public. But behind the scenes, Apple has secretly recruited experienced automotive engineers to work on the project. Beyond that, Apple has considered partnerships with several established car manufacturers who can help him build a car. Let’s dive into deeper and see the possibility of candidates who will build apple cars.
Hyundai-kia
Rumors about the partnership with Apple with Hyundai were first reported in January 2021 by the Korea Economic Daily. According to the report, Apple is working on an agreement with Hyundai to develop an autonomous electric vehicle. Other sources revealed CNBC that Apple’s self-driving cars will be produced at KIA facilities at West Point, Georgia.
Nearly a few weeks after Word came out, Hyundai announced that his potential agreement with Apple came out of the table (via Reuters). Apparently, talks with Apple caused the internal division in Hyundai because some board members speculated about the direction of the company to become a contract manufacturer for Apple cars – similar to how Foxconn produced an iPhone but Apple had it.
But Hyundai can tell the media about potential agreements with Apple not occurred for other reasons. According to Bloomberg, Hyundai resigned in his statement that they negotiated with Apple to build their autonomous cars a few hours after confirming it. For a technology company that developed with confidentiality, maybe Apple was not happy that Hyundai told his secret to the public and forced him to revise his statement and announce the agreement was not turned off a few weeks later.
LG/Magna Joint Venture
Back in 2016, rumors emerged that Apple plans to use Magna to build his car (through 9TO5mac). This happened after the German publication reported that Apple had established secret facilities in Berlin and recruited an engineer team from the German automotive company. Anonymous sources also confirmed to Bloomberg that Magna engineers had collaborated with the Apple team in Sunnyvale.
Interestingly, the Korea Times reported that the joint venture between Magna International and LG almost signed a contract with Apple to produce its cars. This is two months after the conversation with Hyundai reportedly unsuccessful. This joint venture is known as “LG Magna e-PowerTrain,” and was officially signed on July 28, 2021.
However, Magna International and LG have not confirmed whether the joint venture is specifically to produce Apple cars, but it makes sense. Magna International has years of experience in supplying car parts for Toyota, General Motors, BMW, Volkswagen, Kia, Hyundai, and Ford. On the other hand, LG can supply batteries for Apple electric vehicles considering that it does the same thing for Hyundai Kona Electric and Chevrolet Bolt EV.
Volkswagen
Before Apple launched CarPlay in 2014, he partnered with Volkswagen to integrate an iPhone into a beetle. It is known as Ibeetle, and comes with docking stations for your iPhone-Embassy can download special Volkswagen applications on the iPhone to access features such as engine diagnostics, fuel savings, navigation, and hand-free telephone calls. Basically, Ibeetle is like driving a car with carplay before it was officially released.
But Apple’s relationship with Volkswagen does not only end with Ibeetle. After Apple’s partnership, the conversation with Mercedes Benz and BMW to help him make Self-Driving electric vehicles failed, Volkswagen who came to save (through the New York Times). Apple works closely with Volkswagen to install its autonomous software on the T6 Van transporter for testing purposes, so it is only used to adhere to Apple employees.
Going with the history of their relationship, there is a possibility that Volkswagen and Apple can work together again to make apple cars. “Volkswagen is the most possible EV partner for Apple,” Daniel Ives, Director of Equity Research and Analyst in Wedbush Securities, told Bloomberg. Ives also said that Volkswagen could be an advantage for Apple because it made a big step in the EV – Apple car and Apple could become EV. However, Volkswagen CEO is not sure whether Apple will continue his plan to make a car, but he believes it will develop in the car software market (through Reuters).
Foxconn
Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., is Apple’s longest contract manufacturer for iPhone. Because it works closely with Apple, Foxconn is a candidate who might be able to build an apple car, as suggested by Bloomberg. In fact, Foxconn has been traveling to the electric vehicle industry since 2021. Last year, the company signed a contract with Fisker to assemble its electric vehicles in the US immediately after 2023.
Foxconn also partnered with Stellantis, a car manufacturer, to supply semiconductors for electric vehicles. This agreement arrived two months after launching the prototype of his first electric vehicle in Taiwan. “Our biggest challenge is that we don’t know how to make a car,” Liu Muda, CEO and Chair of Foxconn, told the press when the EV prototype was launched. However, with this new interest in semiconductors and electric vehicles, Foxconn looks like a serious competitor for “Project Titan”.
Apple Could Make the Car Itself
Since Apple started working on his car project, he has a high -level automotive engineer from other companies. For example, Apple recruited Desi Ujkashevic who was an executive and engineer in Ford for more than three decades, as reported by Bloomberg. It also employs a former Vice President of Tesla Vehicle Engineering, Vice President of the Porche Chassis Development, and Top Engineers from Mission Motors. The list continues, and it seems that Avengers from experienced automotive engineers have gathered.
In addition, Apple gets a start-up that focuses on self-driving technology (through The Verge) and rental buildings in Silicon Valley with the names of Greek mythological codes that can be related to “Project Titan.” According to The Washington Post, Apple revealed that there might be up to 5,000 employees who worked on “Project Titan” when pressing the accusation of his former engineer. If you consider the resources that have been withdrawn for this project, maybe Apple can produce its self-driving vehicles such as Tesla.
