From Guest Blogger Jordan: Apple Is Looking for a Test Track for Driverless Cars, Report Says

Over the past couple of months, there have been a lot of rumors suggesting that Apple is considering building a driverless car to rival Google, but so far, the company hasn’t released any official information confirming those intentions. But now, a new report claims that there is finally proof that Apple is really developing an autonomous vehicle, and that it’s about to be tested pretty soon.

UK newspaper Guardian reports that it has obtained documents that suggests that the Cupertino-based company is looking for a testing ground for a self-driving car it is building. The report claims that Apple has expressed interest in a test track near San Francisco, where it intends to test the rumored autonomous car that is a result of the much talked-about Project Titan. The correspondence the Guardian has obtained after requesting it under the public record act reveals that Apple has scouted GoMentum Station in Concord, California, a test facility for autonomous vehicles that used to be a naval base.

It’s a 2,100-acre testing ground that features 20 miles of roads, including city streets and highways, along with tunnels and railway crossings, recreating real-world traffic conditions, the Guardian reports.

The Guardian reports a quote by Apple engineer Frank Fearon as he inquires about the availability of the track: “We would … like to get an understanding of timing and availability for the space, and how we would need to coordinate around other parties who would be using [it].”

Japanese automaker Honda has an agreement for using this automotive testing facility, and Google and Tesla Motors are also interested in it. Both the search engine giant and the Model S manufacturer are also developing driverless cars, with Google already testing its prototypes on public roads across California, and with Tesla expected to do the same soon.

Apple hasn’t commented on this matter yet, but the Guardian contacted GoMentum Station, and managed to obtain a comment from its representatives. “We had to sign a non-disclosure agreement with Apple. We can’t tell you anything other than they’ve come in and they’re interested,” said Randy Iwasaki, director of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, which operates the station.

The testing facility is not open to the public, enclosed by barbed-wire fence and guarded by the military, making it extremely secure, which is probably one of the reasons behind Apple’s decision to test its rumored cars there. The tech company is known as one of the most secretive organizations when it comes to revealing any information on new products prior to their launch, so choosing the GoMentum Station as a testing ground for the autonomous car it is building makes perfect sense.

Apple’s interest in an automotive testing ground indicates that the tech giant’s autonomous car project is at a much more advanced stage of development than most industry observers predicted. This, along with the fact that Apple has been recruiting engineers from Tesla and other car makers, suggests that the company is ramping up its efforts for launching a driverless car that some analysts say could occur by 2020.