Hyundai Motor Says It's In Early Talks With Apple To Develop a Self-Driving Car (cnbc.com) 32
South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor said it's in the early stages of discussions with Apple over potentially working together to develop a self-driving car. CNBC reports: "We understand that Apple is in discussion with a variety of global automakers, including Hyundai Motor. As the discussion is at its early stage, nothing has been decided," a representative from Hyundai Motor told CNBC's Chery Kang. The statement followed a local report from the Korea Economic Daily that said Apple suggested the tie-up and Hyundai Motor was reviewing the terms. The report said both electric vehicle production as well as battery development were included in the proposal, and that the car could potentially be released in 2027. The news from Hyundai comes just days after Reuters reported that Apple is aiming to begin producing a car as early as 2024. However, it contrasts a Bloomberg report suggesting development work is still at an early stage and it will take Apple at least half a decade to launch an autonomous, electric vehicle.
Uh what? (Score:2)
An unnamed "Hyundai official" .. we don't know how high up he was .. whether Apple was inquiring about anything, or even what they were asking about.
Re: Uh what? (Score:2)
So I guess (Score:2)
...The opening for crash test dummy is already taken?
Re: (Score:2)
It makes sense for Apple. Hyundai has great EV tech, the most efficient drivetrain on the market. It has done well with batteries too, although it doesn't make them. The US models of the Kona and Soul come with a lifetime warranty on the battery.
There ends the talks (Score:2)
This leak probably 86'd the talks. Pretty sure Apple, which likes to leak on its own terms, wouldn't appreciate this.
Re: (Score:3)
Exactly, I think headline should read "Was in early talks".
It's one of the reasons why Apple doesn't feature nVidia stuff at all.
And I'm fairly certain that there was a fairly airtight NDA in place between Apple and Hyundai Motors which mean there will be hell to pay all around for the leak.
Re: (Score:2)
Probably true. OTOH, Apple could have approved this release of information so as to churn the rumor mill.
Guess we'll know soon, Apple is usually pretty up front when they decide they don't like someone
hyundai was going to work with apple? (Score:1)
i wonder if hyundai received permission from apple to make that announcement. a number of companies have tried that in the past and ended up former collaborators.
If you think apple phone charging cables suck... (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
It's even worse than you think [9cache.com].
neat concept (Score:2)
Unfortunately, only a handful of people could ever afford them, and nobody could afford to get it fixed.
Re: (Score:2)
I honestly expect the innovation to be more along the lines of car lifecycle management. Like some kind of leasing 2.0, but with more than just dumping used vehicles on the used car market when the lease expires.
The whole thing goes back into manufacturing for re-use/refurbishment and then becomes a 'new' car again, with all the environmental benefits, especially the repurposing/reuse of battery packs.
Owners would have some kind of 7 year contract for a car, but get an essentially new vehicle every 18-24 m
Re: (Score:2)
Like some kind of leasing 2.0, but with more than just dumping used vehicles on the used car market when the lease expires.
The whole thing goes back into manufacturing for re-use/refurbishment and then becomes a 'new' car again, with all the environmental benefits, especially the repurposing/reuse of battery packs.
Owners would have some kind of 7 year contract for a car, but get an essentially new vehicle every 18-24 months.
You're basically describing Canoo's business model and design - they had a 5-10 year product lifespan with a couple refreshes to keep it feeling new for the customer. They're also a partner to Hyundai so that trio with Apple would be a nice fit for your idea.
leasing 2.0 = rent a car ding and dent BS + repair (Score:2)
leasing 2.0 = rent a car ding and dent BS + repair / maintenance must be paid for by renter At dealer only.
Slashdot Dupes Tally (Score:5, Insightful)
2 Apple car stories
2 Bitcoin price stories
2 Musk richest man stories
2 Julian Assange extradition blocked stories
SLASHDOT EDITORS, DO YOUR JOB OR ADMIT YOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
Tkanks, no. (Score:4, Funny)
I'd like the car to take me where I want to go. Not to 'suggested places' like Apple Store.
Re: (Score:2)
I'd like the car to take me where I want to go. Not to 'suggested places' like Apple Store.
Me: Take me to McDonalds.
Car: I'm sorry, Dave, but I can't do that. Taking you to the health food store.
Me: Take me to the liquor store.
Car: I'm sorry, Dave, but I can't do that. Taking you to the yogurt shop.
Me: Take me to Chipotle.
Car: I'm sorry, Dave, but I can't do that. Taking you to the sewage treatment plant.
Why (Score:1)
To be in walled garden w.r.t. `apps` one can run on the infotainment thing?
To be in walled garden w.r.t. where the car will go?
To be in the dark w.r.t. bugs, features, backdoors, etc?
Re: (Score:2)
An Apple car wouldn't have any doors, or if it did, they would be glued permanently shut.
Don't get me started on the charging cables...
Re: (Score:2)
Your specific politics aside this is I think a real concern. "Take me to the $POLITICIANS rally." - "I am sorry $POLITICIANS has violated our community standards."
Typical Apple (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
I can't speak for modern Hyundais, but I had a Hyundai Excel GLS back in the early 90s. I can bring up tons of complaints about the car, but it actually ran like a champ. I got rid of it when I moved someplace that has hills and discovered that Hyundais and hills don't mix. But the quality of the car was pretty good, for what it was.
Granted, the Excel was a Mitsubishi Mirage so maybe that's where it came from...
Re: (Score:2)
Heck, the joke was the Hyundai Pony back in the 80s.
But modern Hyundai (and Kia, since both merged) have evolved far beyond that. They aren't quite at the legendary reliability of say, Toyota or Honda, but they're far above FCA (or whatever they call themselves now).
And pretty much forget about Mercedes and BMW - their quality is pretty much crap comparatively - at least, if you're not forking over tons of money all the time. At least they're better than Nissan and FCA and Renault. But not by much, and not
Re: (Score:2)
I own a Hyundai Ioniq (the hybrid version, not a plug-in or fully electric). It has not had any problems. My brother-in-law has a Sonata also, same deal, no problems (he's had his a while, probably about 10 years). If you search reliability data on the internet, Hyundai seems to be typically middle-of-the-pack. This article [thisismoney.co.uk] (out of the UK) seems to indicate that they may be higher than that.
Not sure what to believe because there are so many competing reports out there, but I don't think Hyundai warrants
WAS in early talks with Apple (Score:2)
talks that are now obviously dead since you had to babble about it, congrats.
Re: (Score:2)
Considering the history of destroyed "partners" that Apple has left behind in its wake that's probably a good thing for Hyundai.
Hush hush!! (Score:2)