In February, we reported that Apple had canceled its electric self-driving car project. It has now been revealed that Apple chose a Chinese car manufacturer to design a battery system for the canceled car project. According to Bloomberg, Apple worked with BYD Co., a Shenzhen-based automotive company, to develop batteries using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells.
As part of their partnership, Apple provided engineering expertise, particularly in areas such as thermal management and advanced battery packaging, while BYD supplied production resources and proprietary LFP technologies. Reports suggest that the battery being planned at that time was intended to be safer and have a longer range than most electric vehicle batteries currently available.
The business relationship between Apple and BYD began when BYD reached out to Apple. It is reported that during Apple’s search for partners to work on its car project, BYD showcased an early version of its Blade battery. Apple executives were impressed with the safety and capacity of the battery, leading them to decide to collaborate with BYD. It’s worth noting that the Blade battery has significantly contributed to the sales of BYD vehicles.
It’s important to mention that Apple spent $10 billion on the canceled car project before it was shelved. While the cancellation of the project was a significant disappointment in light of these investments, not all efforts went to waste. According to Bloomberg, insights gained from the car project’s battery development aided other Apple teams in the creation of the Vision Pro and Neural Engine chips.
With the cancellation of the Apple Car project, more details have begun to emerge. In this context, it has been suggested that Apple had been in discussions for assistance with various automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and even Tesla, since 2014. Bloomberg has highlighted these efforts.
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Arwen Volkov, A graduate of the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland with a degree in International Finance, Arwen specializes in sustainable finance and green investments. She began her career at an investment bank in London, where she developed financing models for environmentally friendly projects. Known for her analytical and strategic thinking skills, Arwen is a sought-after financial consultant. In her spare time, she mentors fintech startups, contributing to their growth strategies. She is also a nature enthusiast and an amateur photographer.
