Apple is building a driverless car and scouting for secure locations around San Francisco to test it, reports the Guardian, based on documents it requested under the public record act.
The long-rumoured Project Titan appears to be further advanced than expected. Members of Apple’s secretive special project group met in May with executives from former naval base GoMentum Station, which is being turned into a secure testing ground for self-driving vehicles.
Apple Engineer Frank Fearson wrote to GoMentum, “We would … like to get an understanding of timing and availability for the space, and how we would need to coordinate around other parties who would be using [it].”
Apple has hundred of engineers working on automotive technologies near its main campus.
Google, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Volkswagen and other carmakers have licences to test autonomous vehicles on California roads, but the process involved disclosing technical and commercial details, which notoriously secretive Apple may not want.
Randy Iwasaki, GoMentum owner Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s executive director told the Guardian, “We had to sign a non-disclosure agreement with Apple.
We can’t tell you anything other than they’ve come in and they’re intested.” Apple declined to comment.
–
Source: Telecom Paper