Apple Reportedly in Process of Acquiring Self-Driving Vehicle Company Drive.ai

Apple is in the process of acquiring self-driving vehicle startup Drive.ai in order to boost its own development of a self-driving vehicle system, according to unnamed sources cited by The Information's Amir Efrati and Alex Heath.

The planned deal is described as an 'acqui-hire,' suggesting that Apple is interested in the company primarily for its employees rather than its technology. The acquisition could reportedly result in dozens of Drive.ai engineers ending up at Apple, where they would likely work on autonomous driving systems.

'We don't comment on speculation,' an Apple spokesperson told The Information, suggesting that the acquisition may not be finalized.

Drive.ai was founded in 2015 by a group of Stanford University students. Based in Mountain View, California, the company launched a self-driving shuttle service in select cities in Texas, but the report claims it has been 'struggling' recently and looking for a buyer. It looks like that buyer may be Apple.

(Thanks, Chris!)Related Roundup: Apple CarTag: Apple acquisitionThis article, "Apple Reportedly in Process of Acquiring Self-Driving Vehicle Company Drive.ai" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums