Formula 1 team owner McLaren has dampened down a report that Apple has made a buyout or investment approach for the supercar maker.
The Financial Times reported that talks had started several months ago.
But a McLaren spokesman said: “We can confirm that McLaren is not in discussion with Apple in respect of any potential investment.”
However, the firm “regularly” has “confidential conversations with a wide range of parties”, he added.
The Financial Times reported that a potential deal would see Apple pay up to £1.5bn for McLaren, or make an investment for part of it, citing sources it said had been briefed on negotiations.
It said that Apple was interested in accelerating its own car projects.
The BBC understands that McLaren had been in talks with Apple over its rumoured Apple car, but those talks had not come to fruition.
Apple ploughed $1bn (£770m) into Chinese ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing earlier this year and is testing driverless electric cars.
Jim Holder, editorial director at Haymarket Automotive, said that Apple updates its products every year, whereas carmakers only do it every five to seven years.
Such is the pace of development within Formula 1 that McLaren will upgrade and refine its racing cars multiple times each week during a season. It is thought that Apple is particularly keen on McLaren’s expertise in rapid response times.
If Apple wants a prototyping arm with established credentials – McLaren is a great fit.
Holder added Tesla has disrupted the car industry, but Apple buying McLaren would be much bigger.
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