Apple's Autonomous Vehicle Testing Surges, Records Reveal Quadrupled Mileage

Apple has significantly intensified its autonomous vehicle testing efforts, as disclosed in filings submitted to a California agency. The tech giant's secretive vehicle project, which has spanned six years, showed a substantial surge in autonomous testing activities. Records indicate that from December 2022 to November 2023, Apple nearly quadrupled its testing mileage on public roads compared to the previous year, surpassing the total from 2021 by over 30 times.

The majority of testing occurred in the latter half of the reporting period, peaking in August with an impressive 83,900 miles tested. Operating under a permit for autonomous vehicle technology testing on California's public roads, Apple, like other companies, must have a safety driver present behind the wheel during these tests.

While Apple's testing figures are lower than some of its competitors, such as Alphabet's Waymo, direct comparisons prove challenging due to variations in state reporting guidelines. Apple's commitment to refining and testing its autonomous technology on public roads is evident, showcasing the company's ongoing strides in the dynamic field of self-driving vehicles.