This is perhaps the biggest news from Apple before the end of 2016. According to a VentureBeat report, the Cupertino-based tech giant in a letter to the U.S National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) seeks the “same rights” as the established companies in auto industry.
Apple’s letter issued back in November indicates that the company is interested in being a part of the autonomous automobile movement, pointing out that the “new entrants” to the auto industry should have the same rights and priorities as the established ones.
The letter states that:
“Apple uses machine learning to make its products and services smarter, more intuitive, and more personal. The company is investing heavily in the study of machine learning and automation, and it excited about the potential of automated system in many areas, including transportation”.
This is shocking that Apple is pointing out the established company even though the company still doesn’t part of these. Earlier this year, it was reported the company delayed the self-driving car project since the layoff of key people associated with it.
According to some rumors, self-driving Apple Car project was codenamed Project Titan, was approved by Tim Cook in late 2014, and assigned to Vice President Steve Zadesky, a former Ford engineer. But, Cook in an interview with Fortune, mentioned that hiring new people is the part of company’s ongoing process to “explore things with teams of people” and “explore many different things, many different technologies” – doesn’t hint company’s plan to enter automobile industry with Apple Car.
The application continues that “Apple commends the Department of Transportation and NHTSA for facilitating a national conversation about the safe and ethical development and deployment of automated vehicles”. The letter was signed by a director of product integrity Mr. Steve Kenner and hints that Apple is keen to enter the automobile space soon.
