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Apple chief Cook cooks up rumours after BMW car talks, factory tour

Sometimes you get so lonely, sometimes you get nowhere

Apple has reportedly been having secret confabs with car maker BMW – with scuttlebutt suggesting the companies flirted with the idea of a possible hook up.

According to Reuters, Cupertino boss Tim Cook visited BMW's headquarters in 2014 and higher-ups at Apple were apparently taken on a tour of the facilities at the car manufacturer's Leipzig factory to eyeball its i3 electric wagon made from light weight carbon fibre.

It seems, though, that the talks were somewhat edgy.

The news wire said that the firms were reluctant to strike any deal because Apple is understood to be mulling development of its own self-driving car, while BMW was careful not to show off too much of its "manufacturing know-how" to the tech giant.

Reuters cited two sources familiar with the chats. The Leipzig visit was first reported by German publication Manager-Magazin earlier this week.

Not surprisingly, Apple execs – we're told – quizzed BMW about its production processes. The car manufacturer apparently appeared open to the idea of licensing parts to Cupertino, according to one anonymous insider.

However, since the confabs took place, there have been significant management changes at BMW. Harald Krueger was appointed the company's new boss in May. Such a reshuffle could drive away or rev up any potential partnership between the pair. ®

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