Report: Documents confirm Apple is building self-driving car


In May, engineers from Apple's secretive Special Project group met with officials from GoMentum Station, a 2,100-acre former naval base near San Francisco that is being turned into a high-security testing ground for autonomous vehicles.

In correspondence obtained by the Guardian under a public records act request, Apple engineer Frank Fearon wrote: "We would ... like to get an understanding of timing and availability for the space, and how we would need to coordinate around other parties who would be using [it]."

It's certainly interesting Apple is looking to book time at facility catering to autonomous cars. The former military offers a high level of secrecy in addition to good simulated infrastructure.

Considering the hubbub Apple generated recently with leased vehicles most likely used for mapping, I could see the company interested in such a secret track for any kind of project. Apple already has products for vehicles in CarPlay and I think it's a safe assumption Apple has other stuff for cars in the works.

So I wonder if this really is a smoking gun for an Apple driverless car? Or is Apple just willing to pay for this level of secrecy right in its back yard to test any number of concepts?