Apple Secretly Developed Long-Range EV Battery Tech with China's BYD

Apple secretly collaborated with Chinese automaker BYD to develop long-range electric vehicle battery technology as part of its now-nixed Apple Car project, according to Bloomberg.

Apple car wheel icon feature blue
Beginning around 2017, the partnership focused on creating a battery system using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. The joint effort aimed to produce batteries with longer range and improved safety compared to typical EV batteries of the time. Apple reportedly brought expertise in advanced battery packs and heat management, while BYD contributed manufacturing know-how and advancements in LFP cell technology.

The collaboration was part of Apple's since-canceled car project, which the company invested approximately $1 billion per year in over the past decade. Although Apple doesn't own the technology used in BYD's current Blade batteries, the partnership reportedly influenced the development of BYD's battery systems.

The project is said to have been led by Alexander Hitzinger on Apple's side, with a team of about 50 battery engineers overseen by Mujeeb Ijaz. Michael He, vice president of BYD's battery business, led the efforts for the Chinese company.

Despite the years of collaboration, Apple eventually moved away from the partnership and explored systems from other battery makers. Apple ultimately canceled its car project in February 2024 after executives decided it was not a viable project.

While Apple's car ambitions didn't materialize, the battery development work reportedly contributed to other areas of the company's technology portfolio, including the Vision Pro headset and Neural Engine AI processor. Read our Apple Car roundup for more details about the canceled project.

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Top Rated Comments

Techwatcher Avatar
3 weeks ago
So we’re just casually helping develop EVs in China now huh
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DMG35 Avatar
3 weeks ago
Apple, how about you develop a long range battery for your phones.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ctrlos Avatar
3 weeks ago

While Apple's car ambitions didn't materialize, the battery development work reportedly contributed to other areas of the company's technology portfolio, including the Vision Pro headset and Neural Engine AI processor.
The car never existed. It was always about Vision Pro.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lenningj Avatar
3 weeks ago
byd ? :( no thanks
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MusicMan5150 Avatar
3 weeks ago
If this story is true, Tim Cook needs to step the **** down… right now. Covertly using Apple engineers to give China and the CCP a $10 Billion research and development gift (in order to keep access to their massive market) is essentially what was done here. The pro-China bean counter needs to go. His (more than) decade of grift while riding Steve Jobs’ coat-tails and releasing yawn-inducing, iterative product updates needs to come to an end. Tim has ZERO new ideas worth pursuing and he’s dragging his feet while wasting BOATLOADS of Apple’s R&D money. This is all while continually cashing in stock options, annually, worth tens of millions at a time for himself. Worst of all, he is handing advanced technology to America’s #1 global enemy. — IT’S TIME TO RETIRE, TIM. You’re out of ideas and you’re really beginning to look a bit like a traitor to America, buddy. Now… take THAT to the bank.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
russell_314 Avatar
3 weeks ago

If this story is true, Tim Cook needs to step the **** down… right now. Covertly using Apple engineers to give China and the CCP a $10 Billion research and development gift (in order to keep access to their massive market) is essentially what was done here. The pro-China bean counter needs to go. His (more than) decade of grift while riding Steve Jobs’ coat-tails and releasing yawn-inducing, iterative product updates needs to come to an end. Tim has ZERO new ideas worth pursuing and he’s dragging his feet while wasting BOATLOADS of Apple’s R&D money. This is all while continually cashing in stock options, annually, worth tens of millions at a time for himself. Worst of all, he is handing advanced technology to America’s #1 global enemy. — IT’S TIME TO RETIRE, TIM. You’re out of ideas and you’re really beginning to look like a bit like a traitor to America, buddy. Now… take THAT to the bank.
China is far ahead of the USA when it comes to EV battery development. The USA is late to this game and lagging way behind other countries for EV adoption. This is one case where China is helping us. American companies are licensing patents on Chinese battery technology.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)