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Apple wants 'Apple Car' batteries made in US, claims report

Porsche's 800-volt battery pack, located in the floor of the car.

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Chinese firms are said to have baulked at Apple's insistence on making "Apple Car" batteries in US, meaning it's more probable that the vehicle will be made by Taiwanese manufacturers.

Despite previous reports that Apple was in talks with Chinese battery manufacturers for the "Apple Car," it is claimed that any deal is now unlikely. According to Digitimes, neither of China's two largest battery suppliers, CATL and BYD, want to meet Apple's requirement for US production.

The same unspecified sources claim that it is therefore now more likely that Taiwan-based Foxconn, or Advanced Lithium Electrochemistry, will partner with Apple. Both companies are currently planning to build battery facilities in the US.

Apple has been rumored to be working with China's CATL over battery research since at least 2017.

Digitimes is a reliable source of data as it pertains to Apple's supply chain. It is a notably poorer source for details on Apple's specific plans. Tuesday's report is more of the former than the latter.

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84 Comments

hentaiboy 1252 comments · 14 Years

So let me get this right…

1. Ship raw materials to the US.
2. Make batteries. 

3. Ship batteries to Far East.
4. Make Apple Car.
5. Ship cars to US.

So much for EVs saving the planet 🤔

[Deleted User] 0 comments · 9 Years

hentaiboy said:
So let me get this right…

1. Ship raw materials to the US.
2. Make batteries. 
3. Ship batteries to Far East.
4. Make Apple Car.
5. Ship cars to US.

So much for EVs saving the planet 🤔

No, steps 1, 3, 4 and 5 are not mentioned in the AI article or the source article. Your comment is a fantastic example of a straw man though. 

qwerty52 367 comments · 7 Years

hentaiboy said:
So let me get this right…

1. Ship raw materials to the US.
2. Make batteries. 
3. Ship batteries to Far East.
4. Make Apple Car.
5. Ship cars to US.

So much for EVs saving the planet 🤔

Who says, Apple Car will be made in Far East and not in US facilities?

Very happy with the no_deal_news.
Any dependence on even a single  China’s company, it’s one too much

Kuyangkoh 838 comments · 7 Years

Apple dont care who or where it is made, provided they make a ton of money…..but that’s a good PR

loopless 343 comments · 16 Years

I don’t know who is pushing this foolish vanity project inside Apple but please no. You cant compete with the VW’s, GM’S etc when it comes to building cars no matter how good the car is.