HYUNDAI WALKS BACK CONFIRMATION IT'S IN TALKS ON APPLE CAR

Hyundai Motor Co. backed away from a statement confirming it is in talks with Apple Inc. on developing self-driving car that fuelled an US$8-billion surge in the Korean automaker's market value Friday, saying instead that it received requests for potential co-operation from a number of companies. Revising its statement for the second time in a matter of hours, Hyundai said it had been contacted by potential partners for the development of autonomous electric vehicles, removing any reference to Apple. Shares of Hyundai surged 19 per cent after Korean media initially reported on talks with the U.S. company, only slightly paring their gains after the statement confirming discussions was revised. By naming Apple initially, Hyundai risks the ire of the technology giant known for its secretiveness. Bloomberg