Canoo Could Be The Key To Apple's Car-Making Dreams

The success of electric vehicles has really taken off in the last decade, and we have vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 to thank for the wider adoption of EVs. As the world's most valuable automaker, Tesla is making everyone else green with envy, which is why so many are looking to take a slice of the EV pie for themselves. But as many are learning the hard way, it's not nearly as easy as it looks. Apple has been trying and failing to produce its first-ever car, and startup Canoo has also struggled to gain any momentum. But perhaps the key to success is to join forces, and according to a new report from Bloomberg, that may just be in the cards.

According to "a person close to both Apple and Canoo," Apple may not be interested in Canoo's technology, but rather its engineers, as Canoo has a number of staff members who have expertise in car interior and exterior design, software, drivetrains, battery technology, and automotive manufacturing, while Apple itself has already poached Canoo's former CEO, Ulrich Kranz, and a number of former Canoo engineers. If this does indeed happen, it appears that Apple would go ahead with its own vision for the Apple Car and would simply use Canoo's human resources to make sure that the car is good enough for mass production. For a tech giant that has no track record in automotive manufacturing, a deal with a relatively experienced automaker could be just the push it needs to finally realize its goals.

An acquisition by Apple would certainly benefit the company that created the iPhone, but what benefit would there be for Canoo? After all, its car - the Lifestyle Vehicle - would likely be scrapped. Well, Canoo doesn't seem to have much of a choice: it has been bleeding talent for a long time now, and like Apple, it has failed to make any lasting partnerships with existing automakers stick.

With the money of Apple and the engineering know-how of Canoo, a new EV could finally enter the market. Of course, Apple still has a long way to go if it wants to achieve its lofty ambitions of releasing a self-driving car by 2025, but perhaps the input of Canoo will help get the basics of an EV out of the way, allowing Apple to focus on autonomous driving software. We'll bring you more news on this potential deal as we get it.