Apple and Hyundai to Sign Apple Car Deal by March With Production Beginning in 2024

[jlc1978]

Why? Foreign car makes build cars in the US, and US car makers cars in foreign countries.

If you look at the top 10 "Made in America" vehicles by cars.com's AMI the top 10 are:

1. Ford Ranger (assembled in Wayne, Mich.)
2. Jeep Cherokee (Belvidere, Ill.)
3. Tesla Model S (Fremont, Calif.)
4. Tesla Model 3 (Fremont, Calif.)
5. Honda Odyssey (Lincoln, Ala.)
6. Honda Ridgeline (Lincoln, Ala.)
7. Honda Passport (Lincoln, Ala.)
8. Chevrolet Corvette (Bowling Green, Ky.)
9. Tesla Model X (Fremont, Calif.)
10. Chevrolet Colorado (Wentzville, Mo.)

If you go by the NHTSA AALA 2020 report, it's FCA's Grand Caravan (74%), Ford's Ranger (70%) followed by Hondas and Acuras and MB (also 70%) and then FCA 300 (68%) and finally the Charger and GM's Camaro (66%)

 

[jlc1978]

This will be an EV designed by Hyundai (based on their new EV platform) with Apple's self-driving tech and Apple's infotainment. In fact, this may be the end of Hyundai as a car brand. It's quite possible Hyundai will become Foxconn for the Apple Car, and it will keep Kia (perhaps rebranded) as a Korean non-luxury brand with Genesis being the Korean luxury brand.

I doubt they would ditch the Hyundai brand; if only becasue they would not sell enough Apple cars to make up for the lost volume. Having Hyundai/KIA/Genesis lets them target different market segments, the Apple car would add one more.

 

[Patchwork]

I think any Apple car is likely to be electic as this fits with Apple’s environmental stance more than a gas powered car, it is easier to make autonomous and it‘s the direction all cars are going, so would be odd to launch a gas car and then replace after just a couple of years with and electric one. It follows that Apple would look for a partner with experience of the electric cars, with the top electric car makers being Tesla, Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi alliance, Geely and Hyundai. There’s pretty much no chance of a Tesla tie up and any tie up with Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi would be complicated due to their alliance structure and being part state owned. This leaves it a tossup between Geely and Hyundai, so the rumour does make sense.

A few people have questioned why not tie up with a premium brand such as BMW or Mercedes. I can think of a couple of reasons for this. They aren’t as advanced on their electric car journey and I think this is the market Apple will be chasing, so I’m not sure how keen they’d be to be manufacturing a direct competitor. Also if, as seems likely Apple will be going down the self driving route, I’m not sure if either side would be too happy to share self driving tech with a competitor.

in terms of what the car will be I don’t think it will be based on any existing Hyundai, at least externally. I can see it having its own exterior, interior and software from Apple but the underpinnings, battery and motor(s) supplied by Hyundai. This Kind of platform sharing is pretty common in the car industry and Hyundai already do this with Kia (Hyundai Kona and Kia E-Niro share a lot of mechanical bits even though they look different). It also fits with Apple’s manufacturing policy where they do the design and software but have someone else build it. In the same way as most iPhone buyers won’t know that Foxconn manufacture it, most Apple car buyers won’t know it is made by Hyundai.

 

[abbymtl]

Hyundai is the Samsung of cars, they copy from other high end brands.

You can’t tell me you’ve never confused parts of a Hyundai styling for another brand due to the blatant copying.

 

[Ginginova]

I would say, that there is love between Hyundai and Apple due to Hyundai's new EV platform called Hyundai E-GMP.

For Apple it does not make sense to re-invent the wheel. They just need differentiation into modern next gen premium car segment, most likely powered by AI.

 

[m4mario]

The car purchase was my first vehicle - new and it had electrical and engine issues from the start. Both the dealer and the company did little to address them. Just my personal experience but I won’t support an Apple Car if it’s tied to Hyundai.

Besides getting a $1,000 phone that’s a lemon vs a $25,000 car is not a fair comparison.

May not be a fair comparison. But my point is, no matter who manufacturers that car, it is going to be to Apple's specifications, not their own specifications. When a manufacturer ties up with Apple, they always end up ramping up and setting up new production lines with entirely different specifications.

Apple is not just ordering food from some other catering service and serving it as their own food. They are rather making their own recipes, with their own standard for raw materials and processes. They will just use someone else's newly made kitchen and newly hired employees.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

This thread and the other one discussing Apple and Hyundai working together is proof that a lot of folks buy Apple products just for the shiny cool factor even though when this topic comes up everyone says that nobody does that. The only thing making this move controversial for some is that Hyundai is not seen as a cool brand.

If it's built according to the Apple specs and build quality requirements, what's the problem? Car manufacturers work together all the time. Depending where you live in the world, a fancy Mercedes can come with a Renault engine and the overwhelming majority of people don't know that.

And I wouldn’t buy one of those, either.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Hyundai is the Samsung of cars, they copy from other high end brands.

You can’t tell me you’ve never confused parts of a Hyundai styling for another brand due to the blatant copying.

I saw what I assume is a new sorento the other day. I took pics and sent it my friend with “Is Ford copying kia or is kia copying Ford?”

 

[currocj]

I don't want to know how expensive AppleCare+ will be on the Apple Car Pro Extreme Plus [shivers]

 

[sirozha]

Would they? I can think of a certain other innovative automaker that forgoes dealerships and only has a few service centers throughout the US.

Interesting prediction. Hyundai already owns 33.88% of Kia, and the two share components and platforms. The highly rated Kia Telluride is basically the same as the Hyundai Palisade. While Genesis cars are highly rated, I question their ability to survive in the long term since they have basically no brand power in comparison to the established luxury manufacturers.

I could certainly see Apple using Hyundai as an OEM, but I don't think that Hyundai would cease to exist, especially in other parts of the world. Hyundai branding is also used by spin-offs in other industries, such as Hyundai Heavy Industries, which is the world's largest shipbuilder.

I said Hyundai would cease to exist as a car brand. Of course they won’t cease to exist as a industrial conglomerate.

 

[sirozha]

I don't want to know how expensive AppleCare+ will be on the Apple Car Pro Extreme Plus [shivers]

Fortunately, you will be able to buy an Ioniq made by Hyundai or a similar Kia EV for half the price.

 

[Mike_Trivisonno]

I wonder if the AppleCar will come with an Apple sticker you can put in the rear windshield.

 

[sirozha]

Makes me think it’s a bit unfortunate that they don’t parntner with a US maker. Maybe they will also.

Both Hyundai and Kia have built plants in the US. They are international corporations. How are they not “American manufacturers,” since they build their vehicles in America and have American shareholders?

 

[sirozha]

I wonder if the AppleCar will come with an Apple sticker you can put in the rear windshield.

It will come with a car sticker you can put on the back of the iPhone.

 

[sirozha]

A maxed out MacPro computer costs $53,000.
Don't get your hopes up that this car will be affordable

It will be under a million dollars. I can vouch for that.

 

[sirozha]

I thought the lowest they would go would be Mazda or Subaru.

No, they decided not to stoop so low as Subaru or Mazda and instead use a much more upscale company like Hyundai.

 

[slineaudi]

What are the odds this is more along the lines of CarPlay 2.0 that has deeper car integration (that requires working closer with car companies) with perhaps support for multiple screens/users for say back seat passengers. Something like that rather than an actual apple car.

 

[Whathappened]

I'm surprised that they don't work with a luxury car company.

Just because they never aim at the cheap market does not make apple a luxury company.
A luxury car company would have been a bad choice. Tech enthusiasts mostly don’t drive luxury cars. People who buy luxury cars are quite conservative and not eager to get a fancy new apple car.
Apple might aim at the luxury car market one day, but they will need to do some upper middle class ground work before future lead personnel might consider a luxury apple car over an S class merc.

 

[Stalico]

I guess everyone realizes everything about the cars will likely be controled by a computer. Driverless technology will also rely on cars communicating with each other. I was surprised how much technology was on my 2019 F150. I just bought it off a car lot and drove it off without any research for a work truck, but can detect a pedestrian and slam on the brakes. I've had a Kia for a few years but a lot of people won't be interested in Hyundai.

Edit: Maybe this is where Apple starts to go off the tracks without Steve Jobs? This early news doesn't build confidence as a more expensive and quality brand recognition.

 

[Rogifan]

So is this going to be an Apple branded car that is manufactured by Hyundai or a Hyundai car using Apple autonomous driving tech?

 

[GDF]

Hyundai - really ?

I agree. Apple is supposed to be super premium and high end and you sign with Hyundai. Count me out then. Wow. That will never compete with Tesla, BMW, Mercedes, etc... Very stupid move Apple.

Totally against Apple’s image. Desperation.

 

[jlc1978]

Hyundai is the Samsung of cars, they copy from other high end brands.

You can’t tell me you’ve never confused parts of a Hyundai styling for another brand due to the blatant copying.

Yea, but then again many of what i would classify as mass appleal cars tend to to look simialr; with that smooth flow design. The days of the Hoffmeister Kink and sharknose are gone, I'm afraid.

 

[jlc1978]

I agree. Apple is supposed to be super premium and high end and you sign with Hyundai. Count me out then. Wow. That will never compete with Tesla, BMW, Mercedes, etc... Very stupid move Apple.

It all depends on what they ultimately produce; and tio what specificatons. I have no doubt Hyundai can build to a price point.

Totally against Apple’s image. Desperation.

How so? Their watches aren't made by Patek or at least Rolex or Omega.

 

[mrhick01]

Okay, this is getting ridiculous. Back and forth, back and forth. Just stop reporting it. It’ll happen when it happens. It’s ridiculous to see everyone bash Apple while websites say yes they are, no they aren’t. 🙄🥴

I'm amused to see such a response on a rumors website.

 

[mannyvel]

Hyundai is only the 8th largest car makers in the world. Meaning there are 7 others which are bigger, richer and have a better distribution arm than Hyundai.

Brand equity and prestige aside, there is no way Apple, one of the top five brands in the world would join forces with anything but a solid first-tier brand and one which would be on the same playing field and which not stand as much to gain as Hyundai.

Apple's initial launch partner for the iPhone was Cingular, which was not a top tier carrier at the time. It was bought by AT&T before launch, and the rest is history.