Apple confirms self-driving car development for the first time
US tech giant Apple has admitted for the first time that it is in the process of developing technology for autonomous driving.
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Tim Cook's company has long been reported to be investing in and developing a self-driving car of its own, but maintaining a high level of secrecy about the project.
However, in a letter sent by Apple's director of product integrity Steve Kenner to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States, the Cupertino-based company confirmed it has been developing the technology.
The letter refers to the "significant societal benefits" of automated vehicles, even saying that it could prevent millions of car crashes and thousands of fatalities per year.
"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," Kenner wrote.
"Apple uses machine learning to make its products and services smarter, more intuitive, and more personal," the letter added.
Kenner's letter did not go into any further detail about what the project would involve, or when Apple expected to bring such a vehicle to market. It is thought that fully self-driving cars are still years away despite extensive trials having taken place in the US and the UK.