[단독]Apple invests 4 trillion won in Kia… Promotion of cooperation contract with’Apple Car’ this month

-Hyundai Motor Group’s’Apple Car (tentative name)’ cooperation theory is heating up the industry with the start of the new year. With various rumors and news coming out steadily, a puzzle about the cooperation of Apple Cars was put in place, centering on the group’s major affiliate, Kia.

As previously known, Kia takes over the Apple Car project and production takes place at the Kia Georgia plant in the United States. Both Kia and Apple are refraining from expressing their official position, but it was confirmed that they have entered the contract process. Apple car development cooperation, which was full of rumors and speculation, is making progress.

Overall, Kia and Apple plan to sign a formal contract worth 4 trillion won for Apple car production this month. Practical coordination for a formal contract has been underway since last month, and a specific contract schedule has been set. Initially, the contract date was set at the beginning of February, but it was delayed once and the schedule was changed to February 17. However, it is reported that the contract schedule on February 17 may change depending on the internal circumstances of each company. In particular, on the day of the contract, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Eui-sun Eui-seon said that the plan was scheduled to attend the contract ceremony. Recently, the news that Chairman Chung met a senior Apple official on a business trip to Singapore last month. The facts have not been confirmed.

The contract is expected to contain specific details related to the production of Apple cars. Apple is planning to invest 4 trillion won in Kia. With the aim of launching in 2024, the number of Apple cars produced by Kia is initially around 100,000 units per year and can be expanded to a maximum of 400,000 units. The 4 trillion won that Apple invests in Kia is building exclusive facilities and vehicles for Apple car production. It is expected to be used for development. This large-scale initial investment is also a method Apple often uses in the process of pursuing major product production. When promoting the production of existing flagship products such as iPhone and iPad, Apple has invested trillions in LG Display (LGD) and supplied OLED panels produced in dedicated facilities. Likewise, Kia, which has attracted investment from Apple, is expected to build a dedicated line for Apple’s electric vehicle production, and while Kia leads vehicle production in the Apple Car project, attention is focused on the role of Hyundai Glovis. An industry official said, “Glovis, which has several subsidiaries in the US, will play a significant role in the Apple Car business.” Glovis operates 4 subsidiaries and 4 offices in the United States, including Glovis America and Georgia subsidiaries, Alabama subsidiaries, and GET subsidiary of local land transportation. In addition to logistics, which is its flagship business, the possibility of promoting electric vehicle-related businesses is predicting.

According to the industry, from Apple’s point of view, Hyundai Motor Group is the best partner for entering the electric vehicle market. It is analyzed that it is because it has its own electric vehicle platform (E-GMP), has a production facility in the United States, and has both the ability and requirements to actually produce new cars in accordance with the planned period (2024). The vision of the future proposed by Hyundai Motor Group, such as electric cars, hydrogen cars, and flying cars, may have been an attractive factor for Apple seeking innovation.

Some are concerned that Hyundai Motor Group’s role as a subcontractor in the process of expanding its own electric vehicle brand could be a burden on the brand image. However, weight is placed on the opinion that it will have a positive impact on preoccupying the future electric vehicle market and securing leadership. It is analyzed that collaboration with Apple, which has a large number of loyal customers, can have a positive effect on the image of Hyundai Motor Group in terms of symbolism, and that the image of Hyundai Motor Group’s electric vehicle brand can be changed depending on the completeness of the Apple car product.

Reporter Min-beom Kim of Dong-A.com [email protected]