Apple and Hyundai will agree to connect electric cars earlier this year: Korea IT News

SEOUL (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor and Apple Inc. plan to sign a partnership agreement for autonomous electric cars by March and start production as early as 2024 in the United States, the local newspaper Korea IT News reported on Sunday.

The report follows a statement Friday from Hyundai Motor that it is in initial talks with Apple after another local media outlet said companies are aiming to launch a self-driving electric car in 2027, sending shares of Hyundai by nearly 20%.

Citing industry sources, the latest report says the couple plans to build cars at Kia Motors̵

7; plant in Georgia or jointly invest in a new plant in the United States, with plans to produce 100,000 cars in 2024 in the proposed factory with an annual capacity of 400,000 vehicles. Kia Motors is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motors.

The report says that Hyundai and Apple plan to release a “beta version” of Apple cars next year.

Both Hyundai Motor and Apple have no immediate comment.

Reuters reported last month that Apple is moving forward with autonomous automotive technology and aims to produce a passenger vehicle that could include its own battery-breaking technology as early as 2024.