Hyundai executives 'divided' over Apple Car partnership

[Joe White]

Highly anticipated: Hyundai has been in talks with Apple about a possible partnership for developing an autonomous electric car. However, while a deal previously seemed to be on the horizon, a new report claims that Hyundai executives are “divided” over the prospect of joining forces with Apple for its long-anticipated Project Titan.

Earlier this month, Hyundai confirmed that it was in talks with Apple concerning the future production of an autonomous electric car. The news—which claimed that a deal could be inked as early as March—sent Hyundai stock skyward.

A new report from Reuters claims that a deal between the two companies is far from confirmed. Instead, executives at the South Korean car maker are said to be concerned about Hyundai manufacturing for another brand. “We are agonizing over how to do it, whether it is good to do it or not,” one Hyundai executive told the publication. “We are not a company which manufactures cars for others. It is not like working with Apple would always produce great results.”

To avoid a culture clash between the two, the report adds that Hyundai could end up replacing some executives. Despite Hyundai’s reservations, the company is also said to have excess capacity, meaning that contract manufacturing could be a sensible option.

Apple’s electric vehicle plans are no secret. The company has been developing autonomous driving software while making a series of key acquisitions for years now. It is believed that hundreds of Apple employees are actively working on a self-driving car. Moving its anticipated Project Titan to production may well be the next stage in Apple’s electric transportation ambitions.

Whether Hyundai agrees to be Apple's manufacturing partner, however, remains to be seen.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/88468-hyundai-executives-divided-over-apple-car-partnership.html

 

[dangh]

Cooperation with Apple is just too dangerous. They do not listen, only require whatever they want. If someone don't want too, apple will go ballistic and use any means necessary to show you your place.
Hyundai will be better without this partnership.

 

[duckofdeath]

Cooperation with Apple is just too dangerous. They do not listen, only require whatever they want. If someone don't want too, apple will go ballistic and use any means necessary to show you your place.
Hyundai will be better without this partnership.

Yeah, they've seen how Apple treats phone assembly plants. Pitting them against each other to get the lowest cost labour. Foxxconn had a good run, now they're soon left with a bunch of expensive, empty plants in China.

 

[candle_86]

Cooperation with Apple is just too dangerous. They do not listen, only require whatever they want. If someone don't want too, apple will go ballistic and use any means necessary to show you your place.
Hyundai will be better without this partnership.

Not only that apple has also proven it's more than willing to steal ip for its own benefit. First they supervise how Hyundai would do it, then in 5-7 years Apple opens their own assembly plant using stolen processes, it's a time honored Apple tradition.

 

[noel24]

Yeah, those 30 pieces of silver are not worth it, Hyundai.

 

[psycros]

Not only that apple has also proven it's more than willing to steal ip for its own benefit. First they supervise how Hyundai would do it, then in 5-7 years Apple opens their own assembly plant using stolen processes, it's a time honored Apple tradition.

Well, *Apple* doesn't actually steal that IP..they outsource their thieving to China like nearly everyone else does.

 

[Puiu]

"divided" over how to split the money.

 

[whateversa]

I imagine one of the worst things that can happen is that Apple's self driving tech causes deaths and injuries, then points the finger to Hyundai.

 

[mbrowne5061]

Sounds like an unequal partnership from the ground-up. Not like Google-Ford, where its "Ford Trucks" with "Google Software", but "Apple Car, manufactured by Hyundai". Apple will own the drawings, and if they want to take Hyundai's engineering work to another company (say, Toyota), they will.

Hyundai should walk. Apple needs them far more than Hyundai needs Apple.