Subheader Icon 877-412-3651
Article Apple Acquires Self-Driving Car Startup Drive.ai Image
Image from Pixabay

Apple has bought Drive.ai, one of the most promising self-driving startups in California, who wasn’t doing very good recently and was actually close to ceasing operations altogether. Maybe this was the very reason that Apple decided to go forward with the acquisition, as this was the right time to strike a good deal. Drive.ai was established in 2015 in Mountain View, and quickly grew into an expert in the field of AI-based self-driving systems for regular cars. Drive.ai’s units are independent of the vehicle, and can turn any car into an autonomously driven one through simple and relatively inexpensive modifications.

Why does Apple need such a system? The Cupertino tech giant has been running a project codenamed “Titan” for at least five years now, with the goal being to develop a self-driving electric car. While the rumors about Apple have been rampant for quite some time, the particular project was disclosed in 2018, so the associated research and development goals were publicly confirmed. In the start of the year, Apple laid off more than 200 engineers from the Titan, so uncertainty engulfed the project. As some noticed on Linkedin last month, there have been new members joining in with several Drive.ai employees changing to “Apple” employees and stating that they’re now working on special projects that are underpinned by data analytics, software engineering, and system development. Most of these people are hardware and software engineers, so Apple clearly has something going.

In spite of these developments being publicized, Apple is not keen to share more details about their Titan project, when to expect the first prototype, and what level of autonomy they’re after. Drive.ai’s kits promise the withdrawal of the need for the “safety driver”, but how close this is to reality remains to be seen. According to BBC reports, Apple is currently operating a test fleet of 66 driver-less cars that roam around Cupertino, so these are bound to get the Drive.ai kits and hit the road for a new round of testing.

Related Articles

Latest Metalysis Produces Commercial-Spec C-103 Alloy Powder Image
Industry News

Metalysis Produces Commercial-Spec C-103 Alloy Powder

Metalysis has produced C-103 alloy powder to commercial specification, creating a new source of a refractory material used in space, aerospace, defense and hypersonic systems. The niobium-hafnium-titanium alloy is valued for strength, corrosion resistance and performance in extreme heat. “C-103 was developed in the 1960s but now we are seeing a huge surge in demand,” said Metalysis CEO Nitesh S

Latest Foundation Alloy Raises $22M to Scale Metals Platform Image
Metals

Foundation Alloy Raises $22M to Scale Metals Platform

Foundation Alloy has secured $22 million in Series A funding to expand its solid-state metallurgy platform and increase production of advanced alloys in the United States. The investment will support a new manufacturing facility in Massachusetts, additional production capacity in New Hampshire, and international distribution into Asia. CEO Jake Guglin summed up the company's next phase with a s

Latest ORNL Alloys Help Enable Lighter, More Fuel-Efficient Truck Engines Image
Industry News

ORNL Alloys Help Enable Lighter, More Fuel-Efficient Truck Engines

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed high-temperature aluminum alloys that met the strength and durability requirements of General Motors’ new low-mass, high-efficiency medium-duty truck engine. The materials were tested under a cooperative research and development agreement between ORNL and GM. According to ORNL, the two alloys helped the proto

Latest Tenova to Revamp Tenaris Electric Arc Furnace Image
Industry News

Tenova to Revamp Tenaris Electric Arc Furnace

Tenova will supply an electric arc furnace revamp for Tenaris’ steel mill in Koppel, Pennsylvania. This is part of a wider steel mill modernization program across the company’s Pennsylvania operations. Announced on June 29, 2026, the project will be delivered through Tenova Inc., the company’s US subsidiary, and will include engineering, equipment supply, and commissioning services for the Koppel