Apple Reports its First Fender-Bender with Autonomous Car
Apple Inc. reports that one of its self-driving cars operating in autonomous mode was struck by another vehicle while inching into freeway traffic in California.
Apple Inc. reports that one of its self-driving cars operating in autonomous mode was struck by another vehicle while inching into freeway traffic in California.
It’s the first time Apple has publicly acknowledged the existence of its 4-year-old Titan self-driving car program. Reuters notes that Apple revealed in a court document last month that it has at least 5,000 employees working on the secretive project.
The crash occurred a week ago when one of Apple’s Lexus RX 450h hybrid crossover test vehicles slowed to wait for a gap before merging onto an expressway in Sunnyvale, Calif. The vehicle, traveling at 1 mph, was struck from behind by another car traveling at about 15 mph.
The Calif. Dept. of Motor Vehicles reports there was damage to both cars but no injuries. Apple received a permit last year to test autonomous cars on public roads in California. The company currently operates more than 60 such vehicles, according to Reuters.
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