Vehicle Tech Update: Apple Car, Semiconductor Shortage, and More

This weekend was pretty big for car tech. Buckle up: It’s time for a check-in.

Accelerator: Turns out a version of the famed Apple Car might be here sooner than we thought. On Friday, Hyundai said it’s in early-stage talks with Apple to develop autonomous electric vehicles—which led to a ~20% spike in the car manufacturer’s shares.

• There’s reportedly even a chance that a “beta version” of the car could be released next year.

Brakes: The current state of the semiconductor? Supply <<< demand. The chips now have more uses than ever—smartphones, communication base stations, you name it—and sky-high demand is making it harder for automakers to get the chips they need.

• Automakers like Volkswagen, Honda, Nissan, and Ford have had to roll back production of vehicles, including EVs, due to the global shortage.

U-turn: On Friday, GM debuted a new logo for the first time in ~60 years. The company reportedly wanted something more tech-y, modern, and approachable as it moves toward an “all-electric future.”

• The same day, Cruise, GM’s AV subsidiary, made a high-profile hire: Gil West, Delta Air Lines’s former COO. That may be a sign it’s closing in on a commercial offering, reports WSJ.