The report follows a statement on Friday from Hyundai Motor
that it was in early talks with Apple after another local media outlet said the
companies aimed to launch a self-driving electric car in 2027, sending Hyundai
shares up nearly 20 per cent.
Hyundai Motor declined to comment on the report on Sunday,
and reiterated Friday's comments that it has received requests for potential
cooperation from various companies on developing autonomous EVs.
Apple had no immediate comment.
An updated version of the IT news report removed details,
including production location and capacity and the timeframe for signing the
agreement and launching the pilot vehicles.
The previous version said the companies planned to build the
cars at Kia Motors' factory in Georgia, or invest jointly in a new factory in
the United States to produce 100,000 vehicles around 2024. The full annual
capacity of the proposed plant would be 400,000 vehicles.
Kia Motors is an affiliate of Hyundai Motor.
The report also said Hyundai and Apple planned to release a
"beta version" of the Apple cars next year.
Reuters reported last month that Apple was moving forward
with autonomous car technology and aimed to produce a passenger vehicle that
could include its own breakthrough battery technology as early as 2024.
Shares in Hyundai Motor rose 14.6 per cent in morning trade
on Monday, while affiliate auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis shares rose 12.7 per
cent and Kia shares rose 9.1 per cent versus a 2 per cent gain in the wider market.
-Reuters