Bloomberg Canada: Linamar Interview Points to Apple asking for Quotes Related to a Vehicle
It's being reported that Canadian supplier Linamar Corp. has talked with Apple Inc. and Google about potentially supplying the technology giants if they begin making cars. In an interview in Toronto, CEO Linda Hasenfratz declined to give specifics about the discussions but said she was excited about the potential to work with new players in the auto industry.
Hasenfratz stated that "They're interested in partnering with people in the industry as well because obviously we've got the experience and we know what we need to do in order to build a high-quality vehicle. We're quoting work and designing product that could be utilized in those vehicles."
Canada's second-largest auto supplier specializes in power units for hybrid vehicles and drive trains. The company is working on a new drivetrain for electric vehicles, Hasenfratz said in a May 4 conference call with analysts.
Apple has never confirmed it is working on a car but has been assembling a team of experts in batteries and robotics -- technology needed for autonomous, electric vehicles. German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported in April that Magna International Inc., another Canadian auto manufacturing company, was working with Apple.
In the video Hasenfratz stated that "There's lots of opportunity. I love the idea of having some new customers to work with." At the very second you then hear the Bloomberg host interject to say …"Apple and Google?" (as being some of the new customers). Hasenfratz quickly added "absolutely."
Whether Hasenfratz simply got caught up in the moment of the interview and just rolled with that answer or whether it was an absolute affirmative that Apple is one of the new customers is up to you to judge when you listen to the video. Though considering that Magna is Canadian based, it would make sense for Magna suppliers to be included in the parts of the car in question.
Apple didn't respond to Bloomberg's request for a comment.
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