Apple's Secretive Self-Driving Car Project Sees Pivots and Deadlines Over Decade Before Being Scrapped
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Apple began exploring building an electric vehicle in 2013, with hundreds working in secret on "Project Titan." Goals shifted between building a car, self-driving tech, or both.
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Titan saw staff grow to over 1,000 by 2015 when Apple aimed to ship a car by 2019, but the timeline kept slipping amid strategy changes.
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By 2016, Apple refocused on just self-driving software and sensor tech, testing Lexus SUVs. But the project continued to pivot between grand plans and restructurings.
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In 2021, Apple planned to partner to build a car by 2024, talking to automakers. But by 2022, it decided to develop tech alone, targeting 2026 for a highway self-driving car.
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After a decade, Apple officially ended Titan in 2024 after pressure from its board, having never settled on a clear direction or produced a prototype.