WATCH ABOVE: A new report claiming Apple engineers met with officials at a high-security test track is fueling rumours that Apple is working on a self-driving car. Nicole Bogart reports.
TORONTO – Apple may be closer to developing a self-driving car than previously thought, according to multiple reports.
More evidence pointing toward the tech giant’s alleged car project surfaced Friday after The Guardian published a report alleging Apple engineers met with officials at GoMentum Station, a 2,100-acre former naval base that is being turned into a high-security testing ground for autonomous vehicles.
An official with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority said Apple hasn’t said what kind of testing it hopes to conduct at the decommissioned base in Concord, east of San Francisco. The agency is promoting the base and its 20 miles of closed roads as an ideal test facility for new automotive technology.
Apple declined comment on the report.
Despite recurring reports that Apple is interested in building its own car, the company has never confirmed any plans.
READ MORE: Would you buy an iCar? Apple reportedly working on electric vehicle
Rumours of a so-called “iCar” first emerged in early February, after The Wall Street Journal reported the tech giant had hired hundreds of people to work on a secret project under the code name “Titan.” The article said the rumoured electric vehicle will resemble a minivan and would be branded as an Apple product.
The next week, a Bloomberg report – citing sources with knowledge of the matter – said Apple was aiming to begin production of the rumoured vehicle as early as 2020.
Then, in May, in response to a question about what other areas of technology the company may explore, Apple Senior VP Jeff Williams said, “The car is the ultimate mobile device. We’re exploring a lot of different markets.”
Apple has also been fueling speculation recently by hiring executives from the auto industry, including the head of Mercedes Benz’s research arm.
– With files from The Associated Press
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