They gathered engineers from its secret Special Project group to meet with officials at a former naval base near San Francisco called GoMentum Station.
Advertisement
Citing correspondence between site officials and Apple engineer Frank Fearon, The Guardian quoted the engineer as saying that Apple “would like to get an understanding of timing and availability for the space”.
Google and auto companies such as Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz are already working on similar technologies, and received permits allowing them to test self-driving vehicles in California.
As Quartz reports, the Guardian discovered that Apple’s “Project Titan” self-driving auto is much further into development than was previously thought.
The GoMentum facility is the old Concord Naval Weapons Station established during World War II, no longer in military service.
Rumors of a self-driving vehicle from Apple have persisted for months but until now, the general consensus was that the Cupertino-based company was in the early stages of exploring the idea. Ideally, for Apple, it also features high security. It is the leading test facility for Autonomous Vehicles and Connected Vehicles (CV) applications. According to records obtained by The Guardian, Apple has been in meetings with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, owners of the 5,000-acre GoMentum Station in San Francisco.
While some analysts see Apple as setting out to reinvent transportation, others have been skeptical, predicting that the company is mainly interested in designing and supply electronic components and consumer gadgets for increasingly automated cars. Tim Cook also reportedly took a tour around BMW’s headquarters last year to learn more about its i3 electric vehicle. The company has hinted at such a project in the past, with senior VP Jeff Williams stating that the auto is the “ultimate mobile device” at one point and that Apple is always exploring various markets.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
Advertisement
Apple has “shown interest” in the facility but has not reached any agreement for testing there, Mr Hall said.
