Apple is Talks with Toyota to Build its Electric Car, Reports Say

author: Eric Walz   

A new report from Digitimes has put the spotlight back on Apple Inc.'s secretive Apple Car project dubbed "Project Titan" and it looks as though the iPhone maker is moving forward with its plans.

Apple recently met with Japanese and Asian suppliers, including South Korean companies LG Electronics and battery maker SK Group. Now according to a report from Digitimes, Apple is said to be meeting with executives at Toyota to mass produce its Apple Car.

The meeting with executives at Toyota follows Apple's previous talks with automaker Hyundai in Dec 2020.

Last December reports began surfacing that Apple was in talks with automaker Hyundai Motor Co to build its Apple Car, but those discussions ended in February with no deal being struck with Hyundai's Kia brand.

Then in February, Bloomberg reported that Apple was in talks with multiple lidar developers to supply the sensors for its Apple Car project. According to Bloomberg, Apple already assembled a team of hardware engineers to develop electric drive systems, external vehicle body designs, as well as an interior for the Apple Car.

In July, LG Electronics finalized its new joint venture agreement with automotive supplier Magna International Inc. that will develop e-powertrains and other components for electric vehicles. The new joint venture company will be called "LG Magna e-Powertrain" and will be based in Incheon, South Korea. LG Magna e-Powertrain is linked to Apple's Project Titan.

The new joint venture company was linked in April to computer giant Apple Inc's secretive electric car project, which Apple CEO Time Cook called the "Mother of all AI projects."

The Korean Times reported in April that computer giant Apple was "very near" to inking a deal with LG Magna e-Powertrain to build its futuristic Apple Car.

"LG Magna e-Powertrain is very near to signing contracts with Apple under which they could handle the initial volume production of Apple EVs. Contract details are still being discussed," a source familiar with the talks told The Korea Times in April.

LG has previously supplied motors, battery packs and other components to General Motors for the Bolt EV, the electric Jaguar I-PACE SUV, as well for EV pioneer Tesla.

Apple's Project Titan goes all the way back to 2014. Apple's electric car will reportedly have self-driving capabilities and be powered by AI.

Although Apple managed to keep its plans a secret over the years, the various meetings between Apple, automakers and possible suppliers since last December indicate that Apple is up to something big. It's likely that we won't know what it is until Apple decides to share its plans.

Eric Walz

Originally hailing from New Jersey, Eric is a automotive & technology reporter covering the high-tech industry here in Silicon Valley. He has over 15 years of automotive experience and a bachelors degree in computer science. These skills, combined with technical writing and news reporting, allows him to fully understand and identify new and innovative technologies in the auto industry and beyond. He has worked at Uber on self-driving cars and as a technical writer, helping people to understand and work with technology.