Hyundai on the Apple Car: the South Korean backtracks

A few days ago, the South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai surprisingly announced that it was discussing collaboration with Apple on an autonomous car project.

“We understand that Apple is in discussion with a variety of global automakers, including Hyundai Motor. As the discussion is at its early stage, nothing has been decided.”This is the statement made by the brand on South Korean television. It can be translated as follows:

“Apple is in discussions with several automakers, including Hyundai Motor. But these talks are still in their early stages. Nothing has yet been decided. “

This announcement came after revelations made by the South Korean newspaper Korea Economic Daily, according to which a first concept version of an Apple Car could already see the light of day in 2022, the result of joint work between the Californian giant and the Asian manufacturer , SO.

This confirmation from Hyundai is major, given that itsupports the rumorsthat we have heard for years about the Titan project, another name for the Apple Car development project.

But more recently, the South Korean manufacturer hasbackpedals. He actually changed his statement. He no longer indicates that he is in discussions with Apple and simply declares that he is working on the idea of ​​building an electric autonomous vehicle in collaboration with one or more potential partner manufacturers.

This backpedaling seems weird. As the Swiss newspaper 20minutes points out, it could have been pushed by Apple, which obviously would not have appreciated Hyundai's revelations very much, if there was indeed a discussion between the two parties on the subject of a possible Apple Car .

Would the Hyundai brand haverevealed a secret by mistake? Was she in too much of a hurry to announce her collaboration with Apple? These questions remain unanswered for now.

The initial announcement has in any case already had its effects, particularly on the stock market, where the Hyundai share price hasjumped 20% last Friday.

Considering how the year has started, and if these stories, rumors and revelations continue at the same pace in the coming times, the Apple Car could well bethe big talking point of 2021.

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Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.