Apple, Sony May Develop Self-Driving Cars

February 17, 2015 - By GPS World Staff

Apple is working on its own autonomous car, according to Reuters. An auto industry source told Reuters that the tech giant is gathering information and parts to make a prototype for the autonomous electric vehicle — the entire car, not just automotive software or components.

“They don’t appear to want a lot of help from carmakers,” said the unnamed source.

Apple is gathering advice on parts and production methods, focusing on electric and connected-car technologies, while studying the potential for automated driving, the source told Reuters.

“Fully automated driving is an evolution. Carmakers will slowly build the market for autonomous cars by first releasing connected and partially automated cars,” the source said. “Apple is interested in all the potential ways you can evolve the car; that includes autonomous driving.”

Meanwhile, Sony is also turning to autonomous vehicles, according to USA Today. The electronics giant is teaming up with Japanese robotics company ZMP to develop self-driving automobiles, reports the Financial Times. Sony invested 100 million yen (about $842,000) in ZMP.

Google has been developing its own autonomous vehicles for several years.