The difficult-to-give Apple car project ("Apple Car") seems to have ushered in a major turnaround. Previously, it was reported that the Apple Car would be released in September 2022 (2 years earlier than originally planned), and the prototype of the current trial production has been tested in California, USA. At this last minute, South Korean companies are competing for the number of core component suppliers for this project.
In fact, when Apple decided to restart the car-making plan in 2020, the outside world was speculating that Apple's car supply chain could continue the glory of the fruit chain.
As we all know, integrating high-quality supplier resources is one of the things Apple is best at. Take the partners of Apple electronic products, from Hon Hai Group, Luxshare Precision, Goertek shares, etc., these companies basically hitched a ride on the express train of the fruit chain, and then joined hands to write a wave of wealth creation myths.
However, the former Leader Puzzle Manufacturing was forced to lay off 1,000 people by Apple's single order, and then OFILM was exposed to kick out of the fruit chain after the stock price plummeted, losing nearly 90% of the profit source, these negative cases also show that the apple is cool for a while, losing the fruit chain crematorium. In short, after so many years, everyone has seen the cruelty of the fruit chain and knows very well what it means to cooperate with Apple.
Judging from Apple's actions, his family's control over the automotive supply chain is almost the same as that of the consumer electronics supply chain, or the original formula - the upstream chip design, driving solutions and other core technologies in their own hands. As of the third quarter of 2021, Apple has about 30 patents related to cars. Among them, the core research and development work of Apple's first-generation chip processor has been completed, which has laid the foundation for the fully autonomous driving test of Apple Car.
However, for new energy vehicles, only chips are not enough, the most important thing in this industry chain is two links, which are batteries and car platforms. Simply put, who will supply the batteries, who will help you build the car.
Curiously, since Apple opened the car-making plan, it first invited two leading manufacturers in China, Ningde Times and BYD, and then politely refused; and the Japanese giant Panasonic took the initiative to come to the door, but Apple has not been able to achieve new progress in battery cooperation so far. According to this, some people wonder, Apple is widely sought after by suppliers in the field of consumer electronics, why is the supply chain formation of cross-border car manufacturing hindered?
This brings us back to what was mentioned earlier in the article, and not every company can stand Apple's strong desire to control suppliers. Compared with suppliers in the field of consumer electronics, Apple's car projects are some internationally renowned head enterprises, not to mention BYD's own new energy vehicles are in full swing, the Ningde era has long held Tesla's battery orders, and most importantly, they have irreplaceable technology and production processes in the world, there is no need to serve Apple.
One thing that also needs to be watched out is that according to Apple's high self-esteem posture, it is not certain that one day it will drain your technical advantages, and then kick you away, this kind of "old road" of cultivating competitors for yourself and then catching up with the lifeblood of your own business, or it is better to be cautious.
It is reported that the requirements of Apple electric fish battery developers are that they hope that they will develop and manufacture car battery materials specifically for Apple, and it should be strictly confidential. It just so happens that South Korea's battery manufacturing industry is also developing rapidly, and LG and SK have been in contact with Apple before.
Wen | Liao Lisi titled | Zeng Yi reviewed | Lu Shuoyi