The mega-deal between Apple and a large auto company should finally be off the table.
Instead, there are two interesting solutions for the planned iCar.
Cupertino - For several years there have been rumors about the planned own car of the US-American technology company Apple.
There were talks with Hyundai and Kia as well as with Nissan about a cooperation with regard to the "iCar", but such plans seem to have fizzled out according to reports.
However, experts consider it unlikely that Apple *, like Tesla, will design a vehicle on its own.
Rather, another solution comes to mind, which has already led to a great (sales) success with the iPhone *: to get a smaller, external contract manufacturer on board.
Apple Car: Two options are obvious
There are two obvious solutions for the Apple project "Titan", explains
Business Insider
.
Foxconn from Taiwan, which has been responsible for the production of Apple smartphones for several years, is therefore an option.
In the meantime, the company from Asia also has ambitions in the automotive sector, which additionally fuels the possibility of a partnership.
Most recently, Foxconn agreed on a deal with Fisker and is developing a new model for the electric car manufacturer by 2023.
The second option is on the home continent: Magna International from Canada (and Austria) could also take over the production of the Apple Car, writes the
Bloomberg
portal
.
After all, this is the world's largest contract manufacturer, which also produces vehicles for BMW * and Jaguar Land Rover.
Magna is also producing a vehicle for Fisker - the stage of which is already more concrete than that of Foxconn: The Ocean SU is being built on an all-electric platform.
Apple car: Mega deal with Foxconn or Magna?
So will Foxconn or Magna take over the production of the Apple iCar?
According to
Business Insider
, several reasons speak against expanding the partnership between Apple and Foxconn: "Foxconn was never really active in the automotive industry," Sam Abuelsamid of
Guidehouse Research is
quoted as saying.
In addition, the Asian group would not even manufacture most of the components for the Apple car itself, but would instead have to bring subcontractors on board.
Another point is that trade relations between the US and China are more strained than ever, which makes a transcontinental partnership with a company from Taiwan as part of the Republic of China seem difficult.
There are many indications that Magna is the ideal partner for the implementation of the planned Apple car.
After all, electric cars are more subtle than vehicles with a combustion engine, but much more complex than a smartphone or tablet.
"The consequences of a mistake are much greater," Abuelsamid is quoted as saying. The aspect of autonomous driving also plays an important role here.
Apple-Auto iCar probably with a similar margin as mobile devices
Another interesting assessment concerns the point of pricing policy, which we recently reported on *.
Because the analyst also emphasizes that an Apple iCar should be reserved for a wealthier class of buyers, "who can afford to pay higher prices. That would be necessary in order to achieve Apple's typical margin targets of 35 percent-plus."
Tesla * has proven that it can be done without the know-how of a renowned automotive giant: Within a few years, Elon Musk's ambitious electric car project rose from underdog to one of the most valuable automobile manufacturers.
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