According to foreign media reports, apple representatives visited South Korea again in December last year after the initial visit in the summer of 2021 and met with local suppliers. It is reported that Apple is looking for a group of auto parts manufacturers with large-scale production experience to provide core components for their cars.
Apple's interest in South Korean auto parts suppliers has sparked a fierce battle for a place in Apple's supply chain. Some vendors have even set up a "Task Force" to respond positively to Apple's request. According to people familiar with the matter, Apple has provided equity investment to at least one local component manufacturer in exchange for doubling production capacity.
(Image source: Apple)
Apple's discussions with South Korean suppliers are still in their early stages, so suppliers have yet to get exact information about the vehicle's specifications. Even so, suppliers are aware of the need to keep Apple's car projects confidential, and they fear that leaking information could lead to apple being excluded from apple's supplier shortlist.
After interviewing some vendors, Apple plans to continue the discussion through online meetings. Apple expects to select auto parts suppliers by the end of 2022, and then start full research and development, public car manufacturing projects and mass production in the next two to three years.
In addition, Apple is also interested in South Korea's battery production capacity, and discussed the development and production of electric vehicle batteries with LG, SK and other companies. It is reported that Apple has always advocated the direct development and production of Apple car battery materials, and requires strict confidentiality. Because Apple demands a high degree of control, some battery suppliers have turned down opportunities to work with Apple.
Earlier, according to the technology website MakeTechEasier and Taiwan's Economic Daily, Apple also seems to be negotiating with Taiwan's auto parts suppliers about ordering parts. It is worth noting that there have been many new moves in the auto parts factories in Taiwan recently. New auto parts factories are under construction, some existing ones are being relocated, and some existing ones are adding new production lines. Supply chain said all of these changes were for Apple cars.
What's more, "Heda, BizLink-KY, Heqin, Tomita and other Taiwanese auto parts manufacturers have confirmed that Apple expects to launch Apple Car in September 2022, at least 2 years ahead of schedule." "This seems to be a little earlier than the time revealed by the Korean parts supplier.
While there are still many questions about when Apple's car debuts, and whether Apple is considering launching a complete car or a system that will be built on other cars, it is credible that Apple has ordered at least some parts from a Car Manufacturer in Taiwan, which is a good development in itself.
Apple's car program is 7 years old, and while the project appears to have made progress on parts recently, it also faces frequent personnel changes and strategic shifts, as well as competitors poaching talent from the project.
Last September, Apple's head of automotive program, Doug Field, left Apple to join Ford, now led by Apple executive Kevin Lynch, who worked on Apple Watch software. In November, Soonho Ahn, Apple's global head of batteries, joined Volkswagen's PowerCo battery division. In December, three more key engineers in Apple's auto project, which belonged to the radar, battery and hardware divisions, left.