Apple Has 200 Drivers Testing Its Self-Driving Tech

According to the latest employee data from the California DMV, Apple has hired 201 drivers and 67 vehicles to test and develop its autonomous driving technology. This is all part of Project Titan, Apple's self-driving car project that has been in the works for over eight years. Though the project initially struggled and was nearly scrapped at one point, Apple is now fully committed to advancing self-driving car technology.

Any vehicle that needs to be tested for autonomous technology must be registered with the Californian DMV and have a special permit to be driven on public roads.

Project Titan comprises three different programs: a full autonomous car piece, an autonomous driving technology piece, and a software piece that includes the new Apple CarPlay interface, which can function as an operating system for any vehicle. This version of CarPlay is set to be used by manufacturers such as Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercedes, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche, Renault, and Volvo.

Since Apple began testing autonomous car technology, its vehicles have been involved in 16 collisions. Waymo, which was part of Google X, has been testing this technology for far longer and has reported 227 collisions. GM-backed Cruise is also not far behind, with 203 collisions. Apple reportedly cannot have its cars on public roads as it does not have the special permit from the DMV, something that Waymo and Cruise do have.