Let the Apple Car rumors roll on. According to CNBC, Apple is close to finalizing a deal with Hyundai-Kia to manufacture an Apple-branded autonomous electric vehicle at the Kia assembly plant in West Point, Georgia.
The Apple Car will reportedly be fully autonomous. CNBC says that “sources familiar with Apple’s interest in working with Hyundai” say the tech giant wants to build the Apple Car in North America with an established automaker willing to allow Apple to control the software and hardware that will go into the vehicle, which could start production in 2024.
“The first Apple Cars will not be designed to have a driver,” another “source with knowledge of the current plan” told CNBC. “These will be autonomous, electric vehicles designed to operate without a driver and focused on the last mile.” That could mean Apple cars, at least initially, could focus on package food delivery operations and firms incorporating robotaxis.
