Kia to Helm Apple Car Project, Says Reuters

In the past few weeks, the Apple Car project, known internally as Project Titan, has gained traction in the media. Just when everybody thought the massive electric car project was shelved, reports have surfaced claiming Apple has partnered with South Korean automaker Hyundai to pursue it.

However, it turns out it may not be Hyundai that Apple is working with for the Apple Car project but its sibling brand, Kia.

In a report published by Reuters, which cited Korean publication Edaily, it was revealed that Hyundai Motor Group, the parent company of Hyundai and Kia, has chosen Kia to take over the work for the highly anticipated Apple Car.

Previously, Kia announced it is considering working with foreign firms that specialize in electric vehicles and self-driving technology. While the brand did not name Apple, some of its comments alluded to the tech giant.

However, all three companies—Apple, Kia, and Hyundai—declined to comment on the Reuters report.

At the start of the year, Apple was at the center of news reports when it was revealed to be looking at releasing its first-ever car in 2024. There was also a separate report saying the tech giant is preparing to unveil its prototype sometime next year.

Rumors that Apple will be working with Kia instead of Hyundai started when a report stated that the automaker’s Georgia facility was tapped for the production of the Apple Car.

Apple is reportedly in the process of developing its EV battery technology and automated driving systems; however, it has yet to finalize which automaker it is partnering with for the production stage.

As of writing, the Kia-Apple partnership has not been confirmed, but it doesn’t seem an issue for many as long as Apple delivers its much-awaited electric car sooner rather than later.