According to German business magazine Manager Magazin, Apple has shown interest in using the concept of the BMW i3 electric car in its new project, codenamed Project Titan on creating cars. The head of BMW in conversation with CNBC reporters at the Frankfurt Motor Show said that “it would be a good idea”, but didn’t want to dwell on the possibility of the appearance of this electric car.
“In our business there’s always a rumor, but, as you know, we work together with many IT companies, like Google and Apple on the integration of smartphones in cars, – said the representative of BMW. – Now I have nothing to say about this, since we are actively working on integration and digitalization of our business. I would call it a major trend in our industry.”
According to rumors, Apple has begun talks with BMW last fall. Interest in cooperation with the Bavarian automaker was so large that Apple CEO Tim cook personally came to center BMW for the production of electric cars in Leipzig, taking with him a number of top managers to have a look on line for the release of the BMW i3. According to some reports, the company from Cupertino is interested in the housing i3, is made from carbon fiber for lighter weight. Then the communication of the two companies is interrupted, to resume in March 2015, when, according to German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport, both sides began to negotiate about the transformation in the electric car i3 “Apple Car”.
Despite the veil of secrecy around the project, work over Apple’s own car is confirmed by numerous reports of involvement in their team of talented employees of firms such as Tesla, Ford and GM. According to rumors, the project Project Titan has a team of several hundred people.
MacRumors has found evidence that Apple is indeed held in March this year, research about the new car. The company recently leased a number of buildings within a few minutes drive from its headquarters in Cupertino and altered the premises for use as garages, car repair boxes, and placing of test facilities.
