Tech giant Apple has reportedly signed a deal with Volkswagen to adapt some of its T6 Transporter vans into driverless shuttles.
The New York Times report – citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter – says the move follows failed talks with other automakers, rumoured to have collapsed because of the Silicon Valley firm's data demands.
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The report also says that Apple sought partnerships with BMW and Mercedes-Benz to develop an all-electric self-driving car, but talks broke down over issues surrounding the control of designs and data.
Apple's highly secretive 'Project Titan' driverless tech project has reportedly been dogged by slow progress and lack of strategic direction, as well as a gradual pullback of scope and resources. Project Titan originally aimed at making both the hardware and software for a new autonomous vehicle, but that was scaled back to a driverless shuttle partnering with an existing OEM for a vehicle platform.
Silicon Valley rival Google has partnered with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) which has provided Chrysler Pacfica vehicles for testing Google's driverless tech.
Apple 'focusing on autonomous' for car project
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By GlobalData
