Hyundai’s Apple Car talks paused after company boasted of collaboration last month

Apple's 'Project Titan' is expected to bring new battery technology to the electric vehicle industry

(AFP via Getty Images)

Apple has been in talks with both Hyundai and Kia about building an electric vehicle, but such talks are seemingly no longer continuing, according to reports.

Reuters reports that the companies are no longer in discussions with the smartphone giant, while Bloomberg claims that Apple has been discussing plans with other manufacturers.

Shares of Hyundai and Kia fell by 8.4 per cent and 13.3 per cent respectively, Reuters reports.

Talks have reportedly become difficult due to a dispute within Hyundai about which brand – Hyundai or Kia – would be manufacturing the car.

Kia seems more likely, with a possible Apple car being built in its plant in Georgia, reports say.

Even prior to this news, Hyundai had been cautious about its statements regarding the development of the vehicle.

“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,” a representative from Hyundai Motor said in January.

Apple has been developing its own car for some time. It is claimed that Apple’s Project Titan, the codename for its car development, will see a battery produced that could “radically” reduce costs while increasing the vehicle’s range.

Previous reports have suggested the company will use a “monocell” battery design that allows more active material to be contained, and therefore let the car drive further on one charge.

The Silicon Valley giant reportedly first began automotive work in 2014 but its Project Titan has made slow progress since then.

“If there is one company on the planet that has the resources to do that, it’s probably Apple. But at the same time, it’s not a cellphone,” a former Project Titan employee has said about the project.

Previous reports had indicated that Apple was more interested in developing self-driving technology rather than building an entire car of its own.

Such a development could pose a challenge to Tesla, which CEO Elon Musk has said he considered selling to Apple in 2017 for one-tenth of its current value.

Neither Apple nor Hyundai replied to The Independent’s request for comment before time of publication.