Apple In Talks With BMW To Adopt i3’s Carbon Fiber Body For Its Electric Car
Apple appears to be pushing its electric car project very seriously, with new reports suggesting that the Cupertino based tech giant is reportedly in talks with BMW to use the carbon fiber body of i3 for its upcoming electric car. As per latest reports, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook and other Apple executives had recently visited the car’s manufacturing facility in Leipzig, Germany.
Reports on Apple’s keenness in the i3 for its electric car had emerged earlier. Some automotive magazines had reported about Apple’s intention to strike a deal with BMW in March, reports Techno Buffalo. As per a fresh report on Manager Magazin, Apple and BMW started their negotiations last fall but soon after that there was no further progress on this initiative. However, now both the companies are back to the negotiation.
It is perceived that Apple’s electric car could resemble the i3, which has got good response since its debut. BMW i3, currently offers over 80 miles in between charges and besides that it also features an optional petrol-powered range extender for longer journeys. As per the Manager Magazin report, BMW is also likely to come up with a new model that would sport a “significantly larger electric range.”
Meanwhile, a report on 9 to 5 Mac compares the BMW’s model with the seven-seater Tesla’s Model S, which can accelerate from 0-60 in as little as 2.8 seconds, has a range of up to 300 miles. Besides that, Tesla also possesses a global network of Superchargers that can recharge the Tesla cars, free of cost in as little as 20 minutes.
Apple gives a serious push to its Electric car project
A vague analysis of the recent developments at Apple, gives us an impression that Apple is working very hard towards materializing its Electric car project, codenamed "Titan." Recently, Apple was reportedly in plans to increase its research and development (R&D) spending by $1.5 billion this year, as per a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. Meanwhile, the Cupertino based tech giant is also planning to cut back on its capital expenditure. As a result, by end of September, the R&D budget will increase 34 percent to $5.9 billion, according to a report on Bidness Etc.
The company has recently hired Doug Betts, who previously served as the head of global quality at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. According to a report on Wall Street Journal, Apple had hired former Ford executive Steve Zadesky to lead the Apple’s electric car project and recently, the company also got self-driving car researcher, Paul Furgale on board.
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