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Apple Negotiating with Hyundai for Apple Car Production [Updated x2]

Antes said:
Have a Kia Niro and I like it. Worst thing about it are some of the cheap materials used in the cabin and the atrocious KIA logo. Learned yesterday that they’re finally getting rid of that logo and replacing it with a really sleek one.
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Kia have the most awful advertising strapline. Maybe something got lost in translation, but “The power to surprise” says to me “Hey, guys, we’re really good. If only you took the trouble to give it a whirl”.

Either that, or it has an undocumented tendency to mount the sidewalk :)
 
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Oh boy.... you know how people get irritated when car analogies get mentioned around here?

What happens when Apple becomes a car company?!?!?

:p
 
Someone pointed out elsewhere that before making the iPhone Apple helped Motorola create the Rokr. So maybe this is the Motorola Rokr stage for Apple's car ambitions.

Funny side note the Motorola Rokr was my first cellphone. At the time I had no idea Apple had a hand in creating it. Now here I am all these years later finally back with Apple.
 
ouimetnick said:
That’s what you think. I’m sure those who rushed out to buy those $550 AirPods Max will also be reserving/preordering an Apple Car regardless of who produces it.
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Like all those who have pre-ordered:-
Tesla's new Roadster
Tesla's Cybertruck
Electric Hummer
etc
etc
etc

Then there were those in the UK that put down $1000 on a Tesla Model 3 and had to wait over 3 years for it. Mind you, we are still waiting for the roadster which was announced when? what year?

some people will want the latest 'shiny-shiny' thing regardless of who makes it and how much it will cost.
 
Flow39 said:
There's a 0% chance this will work out well for Apple. Of all brands, I'd never partner with Hyundai to make me a car. I wouldn't want to pay the Apple Tax on a rebranded Hyundai. If they partnered with Toyota or Honda, I'd be much more willing to fork that over (not that I could afford an Apple Car in the first place, but still).
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Do you consider Apple Music to just be a rebranded Beats Music too? Apple has never simply slapped their label on another brand without major re-engineering the entire product. If this rumor is true (it’s not) you would not recognize any Hyundai components, design or performance at all by the time Apple gets through with it.
 
displaced said:
Not a bad shout. Hyundai/Kia have a very good electric powertrain.
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They don’t really. They’re not at all engaging to drive compared to their competitors. You get a ton of wheelspin in the Kona EV, even with traction control enabled. It’s impossible to plant your foot to the floor and get a smooth acceleration (like almost every other EV) in the Kona. It’s a shame.

That’s not even mentioning how the interior just looks like a repurposed ICE car. There’s really nothing special or innovative about it. The only redeeming factor is its range.
 
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jimbobb24 said:
Got to hand it to Hyundai. SK continues to be a very innovative and technologically aggressive country. Hyundai has continually improved their cars and gone from a low tier brand to high quality. My guess is they will soon release a high tier brand like Lexus or Infinity. It will be that high end that Apple will use.
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Google Genesis G70 & G80 and IMO it’s way ahead of Lexus with its hideous grills.
 
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I genuinely think the new Kia K5 and Sorento are the best looking cars in the market for their segments, the price is right too.

And while I drive a brand new BMW, and the driving experience is night and day, Kia and Hyundai’s are the best when you think “value”.
 
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macrumors3000 said:
Hyundai-Kia has factories in Alabama and Georgia with further expansion planned.
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They could do it, but their quality would have to rise dramatically. Their engine technology is great, but after owning a Hyundai for several months, I'm not so sure about their structural consistency.

I was impressed that they could carve out almost as much space as Volkswagen does.
 
jimbobb24 said:
Got to hand it to Hyundai. SK continues to be a very innovative and technologically aggressive country. Hyundai has continually improved their cars and gone from a low tier brand to high quality. My guess is they will soon release a high tier brand like Lexus or Infinity. It will be that high end that Apple will use.
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They do have a badge... Genesis... quite nice actually... with Apple specifying requirements, etc Hyundai would be quite capable of building a car at scale that would match the levels of the top tier luxury brands.

I'm sure the Elon/Tesla fanboys will still be whining "You sheeple are paying 60+ grand for a Hyundai! Losers! 😂"

Smart choice by Apple. Another could be Honda which has similar global sales numbers (about 10% higher than Hyundai as I recall... both in the 5M units/yr range)
 
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Hydundai... cheap and uninspiring cars, this really doesn't scream the premium brand that Apple are usually synonymous with.

Not sure about the US market but Hyundai isn't a very well respected brand here and Kia's are popular only for their low price.
 
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dilbert99 said:
I'd agree, they both have made good strides. The Stinger is nice.

I'm not sure Apple Car would be cheap enough for the masses.
Also, imagine there is something wrong with your windscreen washer reservoir bottle, you are out of warranty and Apple tells you that you need a whole new chassis at 80% the price of a new car... ;)
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Or when you miss a turn: You're steering it wrong.
 
Surprising. No matter how good Hyundai may be at what they do or how their quality has improved since they first started marketing cars, Apple and Hyundai just don’t seem to occupy the same brand cachet. Hyundai isn’t exactly the first make to pop into my head when thinking about interesting designs or top end materials, which are at Apple’s center. “AppleCar by Hyundai” sounds weird, almost an ironic joke, compared to, say, “AppleCar by Audi.”
 
Kabeyun said:
Surprising. No matter how good Hyundai may be at what they do or how their quality has improved since they first started marketing cars, Apple and Hyundai just don’t seem to occupy the same brand cachet. Hyundai isn’t exactly the first make to pop into my head when thinking about interesting designs or top end materials, which are at Apple’s center. “AppleCar by Hyundai” sounds weird, almost an ironic joke, compared to, say, “AppleCar by Audi.”
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My guess is some of the brands may be unwilling to be viewed as merely manufacturing a car for someone else. Call it hubris, conceit or whatever but they have bery respected brands and want to keep being recognized for their characteristics and niche. An Apple car isn't doing that.
 
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