Apple to Invest in Nissan? A New Report Explains Why

iPhone manufacturer Foxconn on Wednesday confirmed that it would be interested in taking over French automaker Renault's roughly one-third stake in Japanese automaker Nissan, as part of a plan to expand into the electric vehicle market.

Taiwanese supply chain news website DigiTimes today said there is "speculation" that Apple could also invest in Nissan, although to us that sounds like an unlikely possibility. Nevertheless, the report says an investment from a company like Apple could "potentially transform" Nissan into a "technology-driven industry leader."

This comes as Honda and Nissan ended merger talks today.

It is unclear what is driving the speculation behind Apple potentially investing in Nissan, beyond its longstanding relationship with Foxconn. Apple reportedly canceled its long-rumored electric vehicle last year, and it recently said it continues to work with several automakers on next-generation CarPlay, with no investment required.

Over the years, there has been fruitless speculation about Apple potentially acquiring or investing in numerous companies, including Peloton, Sonos, Disney, and others. We will only believe in Apple investing in Nissan when we see it.