Fresh details are emerging regarding the long-rumored Apple Car, only this time they come from well-respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and include some basic specs.
As 9To5Mac reports, Kuo believes that Hyundai will be the manufacturing partner for the Apple Car, but more importantly, Apple will use Hyundai's E-GMP electric car chassis, which Hyundai announced back in December.
E-GMP is Hyundai's first dedicated Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) platform. It's expected to offer a 500km (310 mile) range on a full charge, but also offer a fast charge to 80 percent capacity in just 18 minutes. That effectively allows 248 miles of range from a very quick recharge. Hyundai also claims that E-GMP offers 0-60mph acceleration in under 3.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 160mph.
While certainly no match for the best Tesla has to offer right now, Apple is starting with what looks like a very impressive platform to build upon. There's also every reason to think Apple will want to improve upon E-GMP to make the Apple Car stand out from other electric vehicles using it.
Kuo predicts that Apple intends to launch its car in 2025, but that the release window could easily slip as this is the company's first attempt at developing a vehicle. Further delays may also occur based on a number of factors including self-driving technology, component supplies (or lack thereof), and figuring out how to integrate a car with Apple's existing devices and services.
There's also a chance Hyundai's name may not appear alongside Apple's eventual PR about the car. 9To5Mac also reports that Apple is set to do a deal with Kia Motors, a subsidiary of Hyundai, with a plan to produce 100,000 vehicles a year starting in 2024. That certainly fits with a planned 2025 launch. So an Apple car using Hyundai tech, built by Kia.