Apple Inc. has held talks with Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. about building an electric vehicle, though the discussions paused recently, according to people familiar with the situation.
Apple has also been discussing similar plans with other auto manufacturers, the people said. They asked not to be identified discussing private matters.
The secret project has ramped up in recent months. It has the potential to upend the automotive industry and its supply chain in a similar way to Apple’s reinvention of the consumer device market, some experts have speculated.
Apple declined to comment. In January, Hyundai, which owns a controlling stake in Kia, backed away from a statement that said it was in talks with Apple.
That announcement, and other reports of talks originating in the Korean media, have upset Apple, which keeps development projects secret for years and controls relationships with suppliers with ruthless efficiency.
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