Apple joins self-driving cars frenzy

Tech company gets permits to test drive vehicles in California, but is mum on plans

Apple has joined the list of companies with permits to test self-driving cars in California, according to an updated roster released by state officials.

The iPhone maker has disclosed little about its ambitions when it comes to self-driving vehicles, with chief Tim Cook hinting at plans but the company declining to comment for reports on long-idling rumours.

Late last year, Apple revealed it is investing heavily in autonomous vehicles in a letter asking the government to make it easier to develop selfdriving cars.

Apple issued the letter because it is “investing heavily in machine learning and autonomous systems”, an Apple spokesman said in an e-mail to AFP at the time.

The California-based tech giant is expected to focus on software systems, letting partners manufacture vehicles, but would understandably want to be able to test its navigation technology in cars.

Most major auto manufacturers and technology groups are currently developing autonomous vehicles, considered to be the future of the automobile, along with electric power, with first production models promised for around 2020.

General Motors this week announced its autonomous driving efforts, adding 1 100 jobs in a new research centre in San Francisco.

Similar research is being carried out by other auto makers including Ford, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota, and by other groups including Uber and Google parent Alphabet.

Continental this week opened a new research centre in Silicon Valley, saying it was dedicated to “mobility innovations and technologies”.

Chinese tech giant Baidu this week announced the acquisition of xPerception, a US start-up that provides visual perception software. –