While there hasn’t been a ton of Apple Car news of late, a recent rumor through the supply chain has stated that Apple is said to be in “preliminary cooperation negotiations” with well-known automotive electronics suppliers as it continues to hire new employees from Tesla and other manufacturers. Apple is working with “upstream and downstream” electronics suppliers to ensure that it meets current regulations.
The current discussions have been likened to a “request for quotation” model, wherein Apple details its requirements and asks for pricing and other details from vendors.
Apple is also said to be working to establish a factory in the United States, and it’s thought that there’s currently a production plan in place with preliminary technology specifications.
Apple chip supplier TSMC is also said to be working with Apple on a “self-driving chip” at an R&D plant. TSMC is apparently collaborating with STMicroelectronics to further develop gallium nitride (GaN) technology that will be used in hybrid car converters and chargers that are thought to be related to the Apple Car project.
Apple is rumored to be en route to unveil an Apple Car in 2024 to 2025, sources in the supply chain having compared the model as “similar to Tesla.”
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.