Apple could use Foxconn to assemble an 'Apple Car'

Following reportedly unsuccessful talks with existing car manufacturers, Apple may be considering using existing suppliers, such as Foxconn, for the production of the "Apple Car."

As reports continue that Apple is still in talks with various car manufacturers, a new claim suggests that the company may be forced to turn to its existing supply chain. Component suppliers and assembly partners such as Foxconn, or Magna, may be tapped for the production of the "Apple Car."

According to Bloomberg, talks with car companies have floundered over how such partnerships would work. Reportedly, manufacturers are not willing to become contract assemblers instead of car developers.

Bloomberg asserts that unnamed sources within the industry believe that Apple will turn to Foxconn and Magna. Foxconn is Apple's major iPhone assembler, while Magna is an auto industry firm that has previously worked on "Apple Car."

The new Bloomberg claim backs up recent reports that Foxconn has already been investing in car production, via Chinese electric vehicle company, Byron. Foxconn is now also working with EV maker Fisker to produce vehicles by 2023.

Bloomberg further claims that an unspecified Apple employee says that Foxconn is used to following Apple designs and requirements.

44 Comments

saarek 1578 comments · 16 Years

About 3 years ago

Makes complete sense. Foxconn would make the hard parts such as all the microchips anyway, building the car frame, etc, would be no challenge for them.

GeorgeBMac 11421 comments · 8 Years

Yeh, that makes sense...

Like an Intel MacBook, most of it is made of off-the-shelf parts (or easily copied parts) that are simply assembled together.

If you laid out all the parts going into a car (especially and EV with a reduced number of parts) I think it is safe to say that the vast majority of them ( from brakes to door handles to seats) can be easily purchased from 3rd parties to then be assembled into a cohesive whole called an "Apple Car".

Xed 2871 comments · 4 Years

Then I'm out for the Apple Car. Hyundai I'm with. They are very experience with automotive assembly. Foxconn is not.

saarek said:

Makes complete sense. Foxconn would make the hard parts such as all the microchips anyway, building the car frame, etc, would be no challenge for them.

Foxconn is not a foundry. They mostly assemble components sent to them from elsewhere around.

CloudTalkin 916 comments · 5 Years

saarek said:

Makes complete sense. Foxconn would make the hard parts such as all the microchips anyway, building the car frame, etc, would be no challenge for them.

Foxconn doesn't make microchips. You may be thinking of a company like TSMC or Samsung. The thought that manufacturing the car frame and other parts would be no challenge is inaccurate. As evidence, look at the difficulties Tesla is still having with manufacturing tolerances. They have done multiple iterations of 4 different vehicle and have not perfected their processes yet.