Apple presents dilemma for Japan’s auto industry
Apple presents a dilemma for Japan's auto industry. Collaborating with Apple can be a double-edged sword for Japanese automakers. To turn the collaboration with Apple into an opportunity, Japanese car companies need to negotiate fiercely while holding a strong hand. In late 2014, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed in a speech that Apple was building its first-ever technology center in Japan. At the time, this high-profile foreign investment was hailed as a success story for Abenomics, Abe's economic policy.
The news immediately sparked speculation that the iPhone maker might be seeking a Japanese partner for its secretive project to manufacture electric autonomous vehicles.
For Japanese automakers, the prospect of partnering with Apple presents both opportunities and ch...