Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), GEELY AUTOMOBILE HLD (GELYF) – Potential partners for an increase in the number of Apple cars, with Nissan the last to express interest

Since the reports suggested that Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) rekindled its electric car ambitions, several potential partners were named.

The latest to throw a hat in the ring is the Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co Ltd (Pink: NSANF).

Nissan joins the party: Nissan, which is slowly stabilizing its ship after a slowdown in the COVID-19, is open to exploring a partnership with Apple.

This was evident in comments by Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida, when he was asked about a possible partnership with Apple at a press conference to discuss the automaker’s recent quarterly results.

“As technology transforms the auto industry, we need to take new initiatives and work with well-informed companies with good experience, through partnership and collaboration,” said Uchida.

Related link: 10 things Apple investors might want in 2021

Growing interest in the partnership? When rumors about the Apple car reappeared last year, it was speculated that Apple might be working with the foundry. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. (NYSE: TSM) in the manufacture of chips for an autonomous car.

Later, South Korean automotive giant Hyundai Motor Company GDR (Rose: HYMTF) confirmed that it is in negotiations with Apple on EV manufacturing, although it later said that it is negotiating with several car manufacturers.

Reports that emerged last weekend suggested that negotiations between Hyundai and Apple had failed.

French automaker Renault ADR (Pink: RNLSY) could be a more suitable partner as a potential Apple partner, according to JPMorgan analysts. Renault’s contracted manufacturing experience, industrial collaboration and its huge idle capacity in Europe could be sales proposals for a potential partnership, analysts said.

Incidentally, the Apple iPhone supplier Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.-ADR (OTC: HNHPF), popularly known as Foxconn, announced in mid-January a partnership with the Chinese automaker Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd (OTC: GELYF) to offer entire vehicles, parts, intelligent drive systems, automotive ecosystem platforms and the EV industry value chain.

Despite the abundant speculation, one thing seems certain for now: Apple’s EV plans can be long-term, given the manufacturing intricacies and regulatory issues involved.

Daniel Ives, an analyst at Wedbush, said the chances are high that Apple will partner with companies like Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) or Unsponsored Volkswagen AG represents 1 10th Sh ADR (Pink: VWAGY) or other car manufacturers in China, such as Nio Inc – ADR (NYSE: NIO) and Xpeng Inc – ADR (NYSE: XPEV).

“This could lay the groundwork for a dual path of starting to build its own line of EV vehicles after 2025 if this EV / stand-alone venture is successful with consumers,” said the analyst in a note.

Related link: Apple gets better with cryptocurrencies than with EVs: Analyst