At present, the competition in this field is fierce, and many companies hope to launch the driverless car for the masses.
The California Motor Vehicle Authority (DMV) said on Friday that the permit allows Apple's three cars and six drivers to test driverless car technology on the road, all of which are the 2015 Lexus RX450h.
Although it has never been publicly acknowledged that it is considering building an unmanned electric car, Apple has hired dozens of automotive experts in recent years. If Apple has any plans that may exist in this regard, the license reveals more information.
Chris Theodore, Ford Motor Co. and former vice president of Fiat Chrysler and president of consulting firm Theodore & Associates, said: "This really confirms the long-standing rumor that Apple has at least hope to participate in some way. The idea of ​​driving a car to compete."
Obtaining a license does not necessarily mean that Apple is building a car. Theodore said: "This is not necessarily the first rumor that Apple will develop driverless cars, but software or possible hardware related to driverless technology."
An Apple spokesperson declined to comment directly on the permit, but reiterated the company’s statement at the end of last year when it submitted a written opinion to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In November last year, Steve Kenner, Apple's director of quality control, sent a five-page letter to NHTSA, further speculating that the company would enter the highly competitive driverless field.
Kenler wrote in the letter: "The company is investing heavily in machine learning and automation research and is excited about the potential of automation systems in many areas, including transportation."
At the time, Apple said it had already expressed its opinion to NHTSA. "Because Apple is investing heavily in machine learning and automated systems, the potential applications of these technologies include future transportation, so we hope to work with NHTSA to help develop best practices in the industry." .
Apple executives have long been reluctant to publicly acknowledge their interest in cars. The company's CEO, Tim Cook, said Apple hopes not just to integrate its smartphone into its car infotainment system.
More and more traditional car manufacturers, technology companies and small start-ups are testing driverless cars in California – they all want to be the first to launch commercially viable, road-going driverless cars. Now, Apple has joined the ranks.
Companies that have been licensed to test driverless cars in California include Alphabet, Ford, Volkswagen, Daimler, Tesla and General Motors.
Many companies say the first driverless car for the average consumer will be launched in 2020. But some experts believe that this process may take longer due to regulatory challenges.
Apple shares fell 0.5% on Thursday to $141.05.
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