Apple Letter Suggests Self-Driving Car Still Viable

CARS.COM — The future of Apple's ^[1] self-driving car might not be stuck in Neutral after all.

As Cars.com previously reported ^[2], the Cupertino, Calif.-based tech giant was scaling back plans to build an autonomous drive vehicle entirely of its own creation and design. Internally known as Project Titan, Apple was shedding jobs from the project and redirecting its self-driving vehicle plans to the creation of software and sensors. Or at least that's what the tech company seemed to be doing a few short weeks ago.

Related: More Self-Driving Car News ^[3]

In an open letter ^[4] dated Nov. 22 and sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ^[5] concerning the testing and development of autonomous drive cars, Steve Kenner, Apple's director of product integrity, indicated the company has plans to leap into the automotive realm on its own terms. The letter strongly hints that Apple is not shelving plans for Project Titan, nor is it content to simply stay in the shadows as other automotive or tech companies grab the spotlight.

Does this mean an "iCar" might be rolling into Apple stores in the next couple of years? Not likely, though it looks to have a stronger chance of happing at some point — possibly five to 10 years from now.

Most importantly, the letter shows Apple's interest in self-driving cars goes beyond mere software and sensor arrays or working with an existing automobile company.

In Kenner's statement to NHTSA, he refers to "new entrants" in the realm of self-driving vehicles as not having the same opportunities and exemptions to federal testing regulations as existing car manufacturers. If Apple was simply going to team up with a car company, why would it make a fuss about not having the same rulebook that applies to established automakers?

These comments about leveling the playing field only make sense if Apple intends to go its own way with self-driving, at least when it comes to testing new mobility solutions on its own terms.

In September, NHTSA had invited public comment ^[6] on a series of proposed guidelines related to the eventual introduction of autonomous drive technology into real-world use. These guidelines suggested a wide degree of data cross-sharing to help expedite the learning curve and make sure self-driving cars are as safe as possible once they reach production.

This data sharing is a point of contention for automakers that have invested heavily in self-driving tech and might not be so willing to shed millions of their investment for the betterment of rival companies. Apple's letter specifically mentions the "challenge of ensuring the privacy and security of automated vehicles," but the company takes a different tact with its concerns.

"Apple believes that companies should invest the resources necessary to protect individuals' fundamental right to privacy ... Apple urges NHTSA, industry partners and relevant federal agencies to continue to address privacy challenges associated with the collection, use and sharing of automated vehicle data. Apple encourages collaboration with privacy experts beyond the automotive industry."

This personal privacy issue relates to Apple's past federal fights over opening users' iPhones to examination. The same battle could brew over data-sharing a customer's self-driving car information.
It's a fascinating plot twist considering Apple so recently appeared ready to let car companies handle the business of building cars while it focused resources on the technology beneath the sheet metal.