Apple made cars or spent Korean companies SK, LG, Ningde era, BYD "out"?

Wen | "Finance and Economics" Weekly Intern Cao Tingting

Editor| Mao Shiyang

A few days ago, according to media reports, Apple representatives just recently visited South Korea and met with some manufacturers who have experience in the production of large-scale electronic components, which is the second visit after last summer. It is reported that Apple and SK and LG two well-known battery companies discussed the supply of batteries. Apple reportedly expects to complete the selection of Apple's auto suppliers within 2022.

Before negotiating battery supply issues with Korean companies, Apple sought cooperation from Chinese new energy companies. In June 2021, according to the "Daily Economic News" and other media reports, some insiders said that Apple is in contact with Ningde Times and BYD to deal with the supply of electric vehicle power batteries.

However, because Apple's requirements are too high, the cooperation has not been realized. The most critical of these is that Apple requires suppliers to build factories in the United States. In this regard, some insiders told Caijing Tianxia Weekly that if Apple insists that suppliers build factories in the United States, it is "basically unlikely" that Apple will reach cooperation with Ningde Times and BYD at this stage.

Previously, the media reported that Apple in the United States and China's Ningde Times and BYD negotiations on their planned electric vehicle battery supply have largely reached an impasse, because they refuse to set up an exclusive team and build a factory in the United States simply to serve Apple.

Compared with domestic companies, companies in the field of new energy vehicles in South Korea have reacted more positively to Apple. Media reports say that after Apple visited South Korea to discuss manufacturing plans, some South Korean suppliers have set up Apple Car Task Force.

The development of the global intelligent electric vehicle industry has reached the blue ocean stage, and Tesla's global sales in 2021 will be 936,000 units, an increase of about 87.4% year-on-year. Apple's car construction also began to accelerate, after several times of strategic swing of building cars or not building cars, changing 5 responsible persons, and finally made it clear to build a fully driverless car without a steering wheel, and planned to be officially released in 2025.

In fact, the timeline of Apple's car can be pushed forward to 2014. In 2014, Apple launched the car project "Titan" and soon after established contact with BMW, but the two sides did not reach a cooperation to produce passenger cars. Since then, Apple has begun to look for collaborators around the world. A few days ago, according to foreign media reports, Apple is selecting suppliers for its electric vehicles.

"It's the icing on the cake." The above-mentioned industry analyst told Caijing Tianxia Weekly, "Now because of the large domestic demand, Ningde and BYD are in short supply." ”

"Although Apple's car is hot, it faces excessive requirements, which reduces the enthusiasm of the Ningde era and BYD to participate." At present, CATL is already the world's largest manufacturer of new energy power batteries, from January to November 2021, CATL's battery products account for about 30% of the world.

BYD has mastered industry-leading battery technology. BYD, which has been dormant for nearly 30 years, successfully launched a blade battery in March 2020. The volume utilization rate of this battery is increased to 60%, which is 50% higher than the volume and energy density of traditional iron lithium batteries, the cost is reduced by 30%, the discharge is significantly increased, and the life expectancy reaches 8 years and 1.2 million kilometers.

According to a report by China Economic Network on November 11, 2021, Apple still does not give up hope and still plans to resume negotiations with CATL and BYD to work hard to obtain more advanced batteries.

"But in the long run, working with big brands can also enhance their industry prestige, which is definitely helpful." The above-mentioned analysts said, "Apple's publicity effect on the battery brand is very good, in the future, China's cars will be exported, if Apple can also recognize, for foreign consumers, it is also an affirmation." ”

However, if Apple's requirements for building factories in the United States are not relaxed, NINGDE Times, BYD and others are less likely to cooperate with them at present.

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