scorecardApple is secretly testing fully self-driving cars - here's everything we think we know about 'Project Titan'
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Apple is secretly testing fully self-driving cars - here's everything we think we know about 'Project Titan'

Apple's car project is called Project Titan.

Apple is secretly testing fully self-driving cars - here's everything we think we know about 'Project Titan'

The car is being built in a series of industrial facilities in Sunnyvale, California.

The car is being built in a series of industrial facilities in Sunnyvale, California.

Here's a picture of one of the facilities where neighbors have reported hearing "motor noises."

Here

One San Francisco landlord even said Apple was looking for 800,000 square feet of space in the Bay Area for "autonomous cars."

One San Francisco landlord even said Apple was looking for 800,000 square feet of space in the Bay Area for "autonomous cars."

We first heard Apple car rumors in February 2015, when an Apple employee emailed us.

We first heard Apple car rumors in February 2015, when an Apple employee emailed us.

"Apple's latest project is too exciting to pass up," a source told Business Insider. "I think it will change the landscape and give Tesla a run for its money."

People had started seeing a bunch of weird minivans with lots of cameras mounted on top.

People had started seeing a bunch of weird minivans with lots of cameras mounted on top.

Now, those vans are labeled for Apple Maps.

Now, those vans are labeled for Apple Maps.

Then, in February 2015, the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple had "several hundred employees" working on an "Apple-branded electric vehicle."

Then, in February 2015, the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple had "several hundred employees" working on an "Apple-branded electric vehicle."

Eventually, even Tesla CEO Elon Musk was calling the Apple car an "open secret."

Eventually, even Tesla CEO Elon Musk was calling the Apple car an "open secret."

At first, Project Titan was run by Steve Zadesky, who is a former Ford engineer. But he left Apple in late 2015 for "personal reasons."

At first, Project Titan was run by Steve Zadesky, who is a former Ford engineer. But he left Apple in late 2015 for "personal reasons."

He's been replaced by Bob Mansfield, a long-time Apple executive, according to the Wall Street Journal. Mansfield had retired in 2012, but is still well-respected around Apple because of his technical leadership on projects like the iPad.

He

Mansfield is leading a team of as many as 1,000, hired from companies like Tesla, Ford, and BMW. He reports directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Mansfield is leading a team of as many as 1,000, hired from companies like Tesla, Ford, and BMW. He reports directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Most recently, Apple hired Dan Dodge, who founded QNX, the leading car operating system company.

Most recently, Apple hired Dan Dodge, who founded QNX, the leading car operating system company.

The car labs were set up shortly after September 2014, when Apple revealed its Apple Watch.

The car labs were set up shortly after September 2014, when Apple revealed its Apple Watch.

Apple's main electric car workshop is reportedly located at an old Pepsi plant located in Sunnyvale, and is known to Apple employees as "SG6." When I went by earlier this summer, it legitimately looked abandoned from the outside. But on the inside, reportedly, is a lot of Apple research and development.

Apple

One of the few things linking that facility to Apple's car work is that Apple has an entire fleet of these Dodge Caravans. Sometimes those minivans are spotted outside of Apple's Sunnyvale facilities and few of them are labeled for maps.

One of the few things linking that facility to Apple

Here's everywhere you can expect to find an Apple Maps van, according to Apple. 

Source: Autocar

Apple looked into using Gomentum Station, a testing ground for self-driving cars in California, last summer. Self-driving Dodge Caravans have recently been spotted at the former naval base frequently used for testing self-driving cars. The New York Times reports Apple is testing fully autonomous vehicles on a "closed track."

Apple looked into using Gomentum Station, a testing ground for self-driving cars in California, last summer. Self-driving Dodge Caravans have recently been spotted at the former naval base frequently used for testing self-driving cars. The New York Times reports Apple is testing fully autonomous vehicles on a "closed track."

We spotted a new version of Apple's mapping van driving around on the Golden Gate Bridge. This one is equipped with LIDAR sensors, which are commonly seen on self-driving cars.

We spotted a new version of Apple

Apple declined to comment. Sources: TechRadar, Business Insider. 

Now Apple is labeling those cars — but the sensors on top suggest they're doing more than just taking pictures for a street view for Apple Maps.

Now Apple is labeling those cars — but the sensors on top suggest they

 

Apple doesn't actually do any manufacturing, unlike car companies like Ford or Tesla. It contracts the assembly of devices like the iPhone to third-party factory companies like Foxconn. Senior Apple executives have met with Austrian vehicle contract managers including Magna Steyr.

Apple doesn

Many automotive contract manufacturers are based in Europe. A German paper reported in April that Apple is running a 25-person secret lab in Berlin for auto development — either as a lab for improving Apple Maps, or potentially testing electric motors from German suppliers like Bosch or EF.

Many automotive contract manufacturers are based in Europe. A German paper reported in April that Apple is running a 25-person secret lab in Berlin for auto development — either as a lab for improving Apple Maps, or potentially testing electric motors from German suppliers like Bosch or EF.

Apple CEO Tim Cook visited BMW's German headquarters, and senior Apple executives took a tour of BMW's i3 electric car factory in 2014.

Apple CEO Tim Cook visited BMW

In the past year, Cook has held talks with executives from Audi, BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and Mercedes-Benz. Reportedly, Apple is aiming to sell 500,000 cars in its first year.

In the past year, Cook has held talks with executives from Audi, BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and Mercedes-Benz. Reportedly, Apple is aiming to sell 500,000 cars in its first year.

The Apple Car team is split into "three pillars": one working on software, one working on hardware, and one working on sensors. Apple has filed patents for LIDAR sensors.

The Apple Car team is split into "three pillars": one working on software, one working on hardware, and one working on sensors. Apple has filed patents for LIDAR sensors.

But Apple is shifting its focus away from building an actual car to building self-driving car software. Google is focusing on software too, but they've also built a prototype.

But Apple is shifting its focus away from building an actual car to building self-driving car software. Google is focusing on software too, but they

That's because Project Titan has hit roadblocks. Employees working on the project reportedly cannot explain what Apple can bring to self-driving cars that its competitors cannot.

That

If Apple's car ever does come out, you can expect it to be a looker. Apple's head of design, Jony Ive, is a big car guy. Here's video of him gushing over a vintage Ferrari.

If Apple

 

Apple's also hired Jony Ive's buddy Marc Newson, who designed a concept car for Ford. Here's what it looks like:

Apple

 

Apple's car is expected to ship in 2019, 2020, or even 2021 according to reports.

Apple

CEO Tim Cook hasn't said much about the project, but when a shareholder asked at the annual shareholder's meeting, he said, "Do you remember when you were a kid, and Christmas Eve, it was so exciting, you weren't sure what was going to be downstairs? Well, it's going to be Christmas Eve for a while."

CEO Tim Cook hasn

Then he joked, "maybe I should have called on someone else."

Do you know anything about Project Titan or Apple's car? Email the author at kleswing@businessinsider.com.

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