Apple needs a partner, and Nissan is at the very least open to discussing it.
The Apple car might still be alive. According to the Wall Street Journal, Nissan might be interested in partnering up with the tech giant.
The partnership is far from being ink on paper. This information was derived from a question regarding partnering with Apple at Nissan’s quarterly financial results presentation. Makoto Uchida, chief executive officer, stated that the automaker wants to work with companies with good experience and are willing to collaborate. Although vague, this statement showed Nissan’s interest to collaborate.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is believed to be in talks with several Japanese automakers over a possible partnership. Mio Kato, a market analyst, predicts that Nissan is the “most likely candidate to be involved in serious talks with Apple.”
The Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance’s global reach could allow Apple to gain immediate access all around the globe. The Alliance is currently in restructuring, so a collaboration like this could be a huge boost for the future.
After ending negotiations between Hyundai Motor Group and Apple to collaborate on the car, Apple now wants to partner with an automaker. Hyundai pulled out of discussions because it was not a contract manufacturer for Apple, as Foxconn is treated by the tech company for the iPhone.
Apple has a team still working on the car project, even though it doesn’t have anyone to build it. According to reports, the team even includes former Tesla engineers. However, they don’t plan to produce a complete vehicle before 2024-2028. Apple still needs to find a partner to make the vehicle.