#Apple ifart license

Magna is one of the best-known contract manufacturers able to build models for premium brands, and so appears a likely contender. The company did buy a US EV factory, but almost certainly not for Apple cars. The other, perhaps more likely, possibility is that Apple commissions a contract manufacturer to build the cars, just as it uses companies like Foxconn and Pegatron to make iPhones and other Apple products.įoxconn is known to be working on electric car production, but likely working more at the lower end of the market. Existing car brands would be reluctant to be relegated to the role of a contract manufacturer, where Apple makes all the decisions and the car has only Apple branding. The big stumbling block here appears to be branding. The Hyundai/Kia idea was once presented as if it were almost a done deal, before later being dismissed – though there remains some minor partnership talk. These include Hyundai/Kia, Nissan, BMW, and Canoo. Partner with an established brandĪpple has been reported to have discussed a possible partnership with a wide range of established carmakers. Here there are two possible routes the company could take. Who would make it?Īssuming Apple does plan to actually make a car, it would partner with a manufacturing company to actually produce the vehicles. It’s this possibility which has understandably lead to the greatest amount of debate and excitement. The third option, of course, is a full-on car that consumers can lease or buy outright. One obvious market for autonomous cars is ride sharing, so it’s possible that Apple plans to make a self-driving car for a ride-sharing service, but we wouldn’t be able to buy one.

The second possibility is that Apple plans to make cars, but not for retail sale.

#Apple ifart license

Others believe there is enough evidence that Apple is working on self-driving technology, but that it will license this to other companies, rather than make its own car. Some believe Apple’s primary interest is in the in-car experience as the world transitions to self-driving cars – a kind of CarPlay on steroids, if you will. The first suggestion is that Apple wants to create some kind of car tech, but not go as far as actually making a car. We’ve seen three main possibilities suggested: Some kind of car technology, but not a car We know for sure that Apple is very actively exploring some kind of move into the automotive sector, but it’s still not 100% clear that the company plans to go as far as launching a car, which consumers will be able to buy.Īpple has said only that the area is of interest to the company.