UK Edition
MPs are urging the Government to make a bid for Apple to manufacture its electric cars here in Britain, saying such a move would be a "no brainer".
Reports suggest the iPhone maker is planning to begin producing a passenger vehicle with “breakthrough battery technology” in 2024, leading to intense speculation about where the car will be manufactured.
James Sunderland, Conservative MP for Bracknell, said he was supportive of the idea of Britain bidding for Apple to build cars in the UK.
He said it was a "no brainer". "Let’s bring new car production to the UK, use the high-tech workforce that we already have, create new jobs and build electric cars."
Nick Fletcher, Conservative MP for Doncaster added: "As the economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic this year, we should be engaging with new, innovative industries that help boost economic growth while helping the environment."
Apple has been developing automotive technology for years. However the new 2024 deadline has been driven by breakthroughs in battery technology that promise to decrease the cost of the batteries and improve a vehicle’s range.
Details around the project remain unclear. Over the weekend, Hyundai and affiliate Kia both backed away from reports that they are in talks with Apple about manufacturing the new car, increasing speculation about the manufacturing partner the tech giant will pick.
According to Bloomberg, Apple paused talks with Hyundai and Kia weeks ago.
The UK is already home to electric vehicle production. Nissan manufactures its Nissan Leaf in the company's Sunderland factory
Marco Longhi, the Conservative MP Dudley North, said attracting Apple could be a major boost for areas of the country with long-standing automotive expertise.
"This would be a fantastic investment for the Midlands and the Black Country," he said.
"This will mean jobs for people locally and it would buy an endorsement of UK plc in a post Brexit environment."
Winning Apple's business would be a major win for the country, especially after Britain lost out to Berlin when Elon Musk was looking for a location for a new Gigafactory in 2019.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, said the Government and industry were already working together to attract investment into local battery gigafactories.
A Government spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said they could not comment on speculation around commercial contracts.