Hyundai says Apple talks to various automakers, then withdraws statement

According to Hyundai, Apple is in talks with various car manufacturers about a collaboration to produce electric models. The South Korean automaker has since withdrawn the statement.

Talks are underway with “several global automakers,” Hyundai said in a statement following a story by Korea Economic Daily, one of South Korea’s largest newspapers. Apple would like to work with the manufacturers to produce its own electric car in the future, something that was also rumored a few weeks ago.

Hyundai has now changed that statement twice, Bloomberg reports. After the initial change, it just said that Hyundai was in talks with Apple about the partnership and left out the other companies. Moments later, a third version of the statement came out, stating only that Hyundai is talking to other companies about making electric cars together, without naming names.

Apple has not responded to Hyundai’s confirmation. The withdrawal of Hyundai’s statement may have to do with the confidentiality of talks between Apple and the manufacturers: Apple values ​​secrecy and draws up contracts to guarantee it with partners. According to Bloomberg, it could take five to seven years for the car to hit the market.