The Apple Automotive has been on the forefront of many rumors in recent times and but it by no means materialized. As a matter of truth, the Cupertino-based know-how big didn’t even verify what would’ve been an EV, not to mention present photographs or share technical specs of the automobile. The New York Instances studies greater than $10 billion was poured into the ill-fated venture earlier than the iPhone maker pulled the plug on the finish of February.

Whereas the Apple Automotive was nonetheless in improvement, a brand new report from Bloomberg claims Apple obtained in contact with BMW a few potential collaboration. The German luxurious marque wasn’t the one automotive firm thought-about for a partnership as there have been additionally talks with Mercedes, Tesla, Volkswagen, and even with McLaren. Later, electrical startup Canoo had a chat with Apple representatives however to no avail. There have been additionally negotiations with Ford to promote the Apple Automotive by means of the Lincoln luxurious model. Finally, nothing got here out of those discussions. Of all automobile producers contacted by Apple, Bloomberg studies McLaren obtained the closest to inking a deal.

The Apple Automotive was a expensive endeavor as the identical report states the corporate burned by means of a whopping $1 billion a 12 months. A prototype of a white minivan was supposedly proven to executives again in early 2020 at a check monitor in Wittmann, Arizona beforehand owned by Chrysler. The automobile allegedly had an all-glass roof and sliding doorways offering entry to a spacious cabin with 4 seats. The folks mover was nicknamed “Bread Loaf” due to its rounded sides and was envisioned with a big TV, customizable window tint, reclining seats that includes built-in footrests, and a stage 5 self-driving system. The latter was demoted to a stage 2 at one level throughout improvement.

When Apple executives noticed the automobile, the plan was to have the minivan on sale round 2025 but it surely appears to be like as if that’s not going to occur anymore. It’s unclear to what extent BMW’s involvement would’ve been had the 2 corporations reached a deal. Bloomberg contacted Apple and BMW however predictably, each corporations refused to remark. Apparently, Apple allegedly additionally held talks with Magna Worldwide, which builds the Z4 roadster by means of its Magna Steyr subsidiary on the manufacturing unit in Graz, Austria.

Likelihood is we’ll by no means discover out the complete story about what occurred to the doomed Apple Automotive and the main points surrounding the failed collaboration with BMW and different manufacturers. The Munich-based marque does have ongoing collaborations with different corporations since Ineos Automotive and Land Rover use a few of its six- and eight-cylinder engines. As well as, it has the Z4/Supra tie-up with Toyota, with which it’s collectively engaged on hydrogen know-how.

Supply: Bloomberg (subscription required), The New York Instances