Apple In Talks With Toyota For Apple Car

The Apple Car project seems to be well and truly back on track and this time around Taiwan based DigiTimes is reporting that the Cupertino-based giant is in the process of negotiating a deal with Toyota for a potential partnership for the manufacturing of the Apple Car. When it comes down to DigiTimes, they have a hit or miss record with Apple-related news as most of their sources are based in the supply chain. What's stranger is that these talks seem to be surrounded around the supply of batteries something which Toyota doesn't excel at. 

In fact, Toyota is one of the last of the major automotive giants to embrace electric powertrains as even its CEO Akio Toyoda isn't convinced with the potential of the technology. Toyota has instead prioritised hydrogen fuel cell-based cars and has only started work on EVs because of investor pressure. This comes after Apple executives had conversations with LG Energy Solutions which is based in South Korea and even SK Group. Apple has already had some levels of talks with the likes of Hyundai, Nissan, Magna and but it hasn't closed a deal with anyone. 

Lynch was the chief technology officer at Adobe before he became VP technology at Apple

Apple is said to be preparing for a 2024 launch for the Apple Car which means that it will likely announce the project sometime in 2022 or 2023. Apple is said to have developed a fully electric car that has semi-autonomous technology. Apple has reportedly also developed its own battery technology which will enable high range. Apple has in-house semiconductor expertise with arguably the world's most adept chip designing team that's created custom silicon for the iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, iPad, HomePods and AirPods -- this flex should continue with the Apple Car as well. 

Also Read: Akira Yoshino Says Apple Car Could Be Announced In 2021

Apple is likely to play catch up to the likes of Tesla and Waymo when it comes down to autonomous technology as it hasn't gathered nearly enough data as its potential rivals in the space. But Apple has been quietly acquiring companies to catch up in the space with start-ups like Drive.AI now under its own umbrella and it has also hired a battalion of experienced executives from companies like Tesla, BMW and Porsche to develop the project further. 

Giannandrea was the head of Search at Google before he was tapped as Apple's AI boss in 2018

The project is led day to day by Doug Field who was at Tesla at one time but he reports to Apple's AI boss John Giannandrea. Giannandrea has also roped in the product head of Apple Watch Kevin Lynch to help him further develop the project. Apple doesn't want to enter the manufacturing business and wants a relationship like the one it has with Foxconn for the manufacturing of the Apple Car. The challenge it feels right now is that most automakers also want their branding on the project something Apple is unwilling to do so. 

The closest Apple has come to closing a deal is with Hyundai which also unwittingly revealed that it had a deal with Apple which probably caused Apple to back off due to its hyper secretive nature. Many people also believe the Apple Car could be the last major product that gets launched under CEO Tim Cook who recently completed 10 years at the top job after taking over from Steve Jobs in August 2011. Tim Cook earlier this year said that he will likely not be at Apple in 10 years' time.