Apple Inc., the famous tech giant known for its iPhones, iPads and Macs, has reportedly held talks with EV startup Canoo in 2020. According to documents viewed by The Wall Street Journal and people familiar with the matter, Apple was exploring the possibility of a partnership or investment in Canoo. The electric-vehicle manufacturer is focused on developing vehicles specifically designed to fill a gap between passenger cars and commercial trucks.
Canoo unveiled their first two models in October 2020: an electric delivery van called Pod, and an electric car concept called Skate. Both models feature an unconventional design with no traditional dashboard components, comfortable seating for seven passengers, and scalable autonomy capabilities from Level 2 up to Level 5 automation. With their customizable and sleek interiors, these vehicles are poised to revolutionise how people travel across cities.
It is unclear whether or not a deal transpired between Apple and Canoo. Still, if it did occur, it will likely contribute significantly to Apple’s ambition of becoming a major player in the increasingly competitive EV market. Stay tuned here for updates as they emerge!
Overview of Canoo
Canoo, an electric vehicle (EV) startup, has been making waves in the automotive industry since its launch in 2018. With its unique modular platform, the company has gained much attention from major carmakers, including Apple.
Apple reportedly held talks with Canoo in 2020 to explore partnerships.
In this article, we’ll provide an overview of Canoo and explore the talks between Apple and the EV startup.
Company Overview
Canoo is an electric vehicle (EV) startup based in Los Angeles, California. Established in 2017, the company designs and develops minivans and other multipurpose vehicles such as pickup trucks, low-emission commercial vans and premium SUVs. The company builds its vehicles through advanced manufacturing processes, embracing digitalization to speed production. Canoo collaborates with global automakers, investors and technology providers to deliver customer-centric outcomes.
Canoo’s award-winning EV projects have raised over $200 million from prominent venture capitalists. CEO Ulrich Kranz heads the startup, previously a key member of BMW’s “Project i”, responsible for introducing the BMW i3 and i8 electric vehicles. Canoo has an experienced management team with automotive industry expertise from BMW, GM, Nissan Infiniti, Porsche, and Tesla.
The company’s proprietary platform supports flexible designs that can be readily adapted for various usage scenarios including personal transport; goods transportation; last-mile delivery; corporate fleets; and passenger transport services such as ride-hailing.
Canoo is developing its battery packs and powertrain components such as EV motors to meet future market demands for EVs.
The company also partners with technology developers including Modular Automation Systems Inc., Design For Automation Inc., Total Expert Group (TEG), Cubic Corporation Consultancy Services, 3D IT Solutions LLC., Ace Metrix Inc., Faraday Motors LLC., Solve Solutions LLC., Cartesian Technologies LLC., AWS Geometry LLC., Optimal Energy CIC Ltd, WorleyParsons UK Ltd among others to provide a wide array of services ranging from automation systems design to software simulation development to ensure cutting edge solutions for their customers’ needs are met quickly and efficiently.
Canoo’s Electric Vehicle Offerings
Canoo is a Los Angeles-based electric vehicle (EV) company that develops innovative and affordable electric vehicles. Canoo has recently become a point of interest in the industry after news broke that Apple had talks with the startup earlier this year.
Canoo’s first launch product was their subscription-only delivery minivan. The vehicle features a unique design, with a “skateboard” platform on which all components are mounted and deployed as needed, while data analysis drives decision-making on future innovation. The first production model is expected in 2021.
In addition, Canoo is also reportedly working on several other EV projects, including developing an autonomous shuttle bus and an SUV for commercial fleets. The transport trailers for the shuttle buses have already been developed and will be ready for use shortly. As for their SUV offering, it is said to feature two rows of seating, along with a powerful engine that can get you from 0-60 mph within 6 seconds. These offerings are part of Canoo’s ambitious plans to provide transportation solutions regardless of need or personal budget.
Exclusive: Apple held talks with EV startup Canoo in 2020
News recently surfaced that tech giant Apple had held talks with electric vehicle startup Canoo in 2020. Reports claim that the talks intended to discuss a possible partnership.
In this article, we will offer more details of the discussions between the two companies, including the topics discussed and its potential outcomes.
Timing of Discussions
It has been reported that Apple held preliminary talks with electric vehicle startup Canoo in 2020. However, it is unclear exactly when the conversations occurred, although they likely occurred in spring or summer last year.
In a statement issued by Canoo after news of the talks became public, its CEO Ulrich Kranz said: “We had positive and constructive talks with Apple during its evaluation process to develop a next-generation battery-electric vehicle, but those dialogues have not progressed further.”
This indicates that while discussions between Apple and Canoo took place in 2020, they did not advance at this stage. It is unclear whether the negotiations have restarted since then or if discussions about a potential partnership will continue. This information has yet to be made public by either company.
Possible Areas of Collaboration
Apple and Canoo have had discussions surrounding a possible collaboration. While it is unclear as to the exact details of the discussions, it is speculated that the companies have been exploring several avenues of collaboration.
The areas of possible collaboration between Apple and Canoo fall into three main categories: powertrain design, integration services, and assembly.
Powertrain Design: Apple and Canoo could collaborate on designing electric powertrains for future vehicles. Working together would enable both companies to leverage their expertise in complex engineering problems and access advanced technologies from both providers to create more efficient engines for fleets of mass-produced vehicles.
Integration Services: The two companies may also consider collaborating on providing integration services for their respective products. For example, Canoo may design custom software that enables its modules to be integrated with Apple’s operating systems to create vehicles with fully functional infotainment systems and integrated entertainment options such as maps, music streaming services, etc.
Assembly: Finally, Apple and Canoo could consider working together on manufacturing fixtures that would allow them to assemble components easily onto new vehicle designs to speed up production time and reduce costs related to tooling and assembly labor expenses. This collaboration could bring innovations in manufacturing processes while simultaneously offering competitive pricing advantages through mass production of vehicle components or module kits assembled at plant sites or within distributed warehouses worldwide.
Analysis
Apple is no stranger to investing in new and innovative technologies, as illustrated by the company’s talks with electric vehicle (EV) startup Canoo in 2020. The talks took place over the year and saw Apple explore possible strategic partnerships with the startup.
In this article, we will analyze the implications of these talks and why they are significant.
Possible Reasons for Apple’s Interest in Canoo
Apple is known for its innovation and interest in the electric car market, and its discussion with Canoo indicates that they may be looking at diversifying their portfolio. In addition, Canoo’s simplified approach to electric cars appears to have caught Apple’s attention. Here are some possible reasons why Apple held talks with Canoo:
1. Cutting-edge EV Technology: Canoo’s revolutionary EV has numerous features that make it stand out against other traditional vehicles in the industry. These features allow owners to access various customizable options, such as self-driving tech, 3D cloud mapping, a “lounge-like” seating design, and customizable dashboards.
2. Potential Collaborations:The talks between Apple and Canoo could also indicate that potential collaborations may be on the horizon for both companies. For example, apple could use its expertise in technology and software to help accelerate the development of Canoo’s EVs, or collaborate on larger projects like developing self-driving vehicles together.
3. Establishing an Alternative Market: By investing in an alternative automotive entity such as Canoo, Apple could increase its presence within the automobile market without creating large investments in traditional automakers. It could also allow them to establish their own EV empire under their name; thereby creating a new market segment and business opportunity separate from traditional competitors such as Tesla or General Motors (GM).
It will be interesting to see how this plays out over time if any partnership between Apple & Canoo is announced officially by either company soon. As of now though, it appears clear that the discussions between both entities point strongly towards mutual exploration into expanding their respective businesses while leveraging each other’s prowess across software & hardware technologies.
Implications of Apple’s Investment in Canoo
By investing in Canoo, Apple can benefit from their electric vehicle expertise. Canoo’s experienced team of engineers will be able to provide Apple with valuable insights into the development of autonomous and electric cars. Furthermore, Apple will have access to a suite of advanced technologies and processes enabling them to build more efficient EVs.
The startup’s strong creative design and engineering focus could help Apple develop more personalized EVs that cater to each customer’s needs.
Moreover, as a part of the deal, Apple could also gain a share in understanding Canoo’s worker-focused platform technology for designing components for electric vehicles. This platform does not rely on 3-D designs like traditional CAD tools. Instead, it relies heavily on engineering teams working collaboratively from start to finish to speed up their designs and reduce dependencies on other components. Furthermore, this platform enables both companies to produce cheaper parts faster than before without compromising quality or reliability standards.
In addition, with this investment, Apple could gain access to new battery technologies developed by Canoo and insights into its production methods, which can help reduce costs associated with producing EVs. Ultimately, this technological advancement may make EVs more affordable for masses and accelerate the worldwide adoption of these products in the long run.
Conclusion
At this time, it is unclear what the outcome of the talks between Apple and Canoo were. While some sources have indicated that discussions did occur and that Apple may be interested in teaming up with the startup in some capacity, neither company has confirmed this.
Apple has not made any public statements regarding a partnership with Canoo, nor did Canoo confirm whether or not talks were held. Both companies likely remain open to further discussion, so watch for updates as we learn more about this situation.
About The Author
