SEOUL: Hyundai Motor and Apple plan to sign a partnership contract on autonomous electric cars by March and start production around 2024 in the United States, local newspaper Korea IT News reported on Sunday (January 10).
The report follows Friday’s statement from Hyundai Motor that it was in early talks with Apple after other local media reported that the companies were aiming to launch a self-driving electric car in 2027, putting Hyundai shares up nearly 20per percent.
Hyundai Motor declined to comment on the report on Sunday, reiterating comments Friday that it has received requests for possible collaboration from various companies about developing autonomous EVs.
Apple had no immediate comment.
An updated version of the IT news report removed details, including location and production capacity and the timetable for signing the agreement and launching the pilot vehicles.
The previous version said the companies planned to build the cars at the Kia Motors factory in Georgia, or invest together in a new factory in the United States to produce 100,000 vehicles around 2024. Full annual capacity the proposed plant 400,000 vehicles.
Kia Motors is connected to Hyundai Motor.
The report also said that Hyundai and Apple planned to release a “beta version” of the Apple cars next year.
Reuters reported last month that Apple was moving ahead with autonomous car technology and was aiming to introduce a passenger vehicle that could take its toll. -into its own rechargeable battery technology as early as 2024.