Driverless cars may be launched by 2020
The California Department of Motor Vehicles gave Apple a permit to test driverless its cars in the Golden State on Friday.
Apple, along with Google, Ford, Volkswagen, Daimler, Tesla and GM have all been issued permits to test drive autonomous cars in California. All are trying to be the first successful company to bring driverless cars to the public.
Many of the companies say the first cars will be launched in 2020, but some experts say it may take longer due to regulatory challenges.
In the past, Apple executives have been coy about their interest in autonomous vehicles. Chief Executive Tim Cook has suggested that Apple is looking to move beyond integration of Apple smartphones into infotainment systems.
“The company is investing heavily in the study of machine learning and automation, and is excited about the potential of automated systems in many areas, including transportation,” Apple’s director of product integrity, Steve Kenner wrote in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
