Apple's once-ambitious plan to enter the electric vehicle (EV) market secretly took an unexpected turn, as the tech giant once quietly partnered with Chinese automaker BYD to develop advanced battery systems.
According to a Bloomberg report, the collaboration was centred on creating long-range power batteries using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. These batteries were intended to offer superior longevity and safety compared to conventional EV batteries available at the time.
The Apple-BYD partnership, which started around 2017, focused on designing a highly customised battery system for a future Apple vehicle.
While Apple contributed expertise in battery packs and thermal management, BYD brought manufacturing innovations and LFP cell technology to the table.
Although Apple doesn’t hold ownership over BYD's current battery technologies, the collaboration highlights the company’s serious attempt at entering the automotive industry.
BYD's Blade battery, which powers its entire lineup today, is said to have benefited from lessons learned during this partnership. In a statement, BYD confirmed its independent development of the Blade battery, emphasising that it retains full patent rights.
Apple’s automotive ambitions faced numerous delays and challenges, leading to the eventual cancellation of the project earlier this year.
Despite exploring custom battery solutions and investing heavily in engineering, the complexities of the EV market proved too costly. By late February, Apple shelved one of the most anticipated projects in its history.
BYD, on the other hand, has surged ahead, becoming the world’s second-largest EV battery producer and overtaking Tesla in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales in late 2023.
As of this year, the company sold over 2.7 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) globally, continuing its rapid rise in the industry.