After negotiations with Mercedes-Benz and BMW failed, Apple reportedly reached an agreement with Volkswagen on autonomous driving transformation

Apple has continued to advance its self-driving car testing in the past few months. According to the New York Times, the company has reached an agreement with Volkswagen. As part of the agreement, Apple will use Volkswagen's T6 Transporter vans to transform them into self-driving employee shuttles.

Apple reportedly approached BMW and Mercedes-Benz to work together on developing an all-electric self-driving car, but the talks fell apart because Apple wanted to control data and design:

"According to people familiar with the matter, Apple has sought cooperation with luxury car manufacturers BMW and Mercedes-Benz to develop all-electric self-driving cars in the past few years. However, the negotiations eventually broke down after repeated negotiations due to Apple's control over data and design."

Now Apple has turned to Volkswagen and has reached an agreement to convert some of the company's T6 Transporter vans into self-driving shuttles to transport Apple employees. The project is said to be behind schedule and "occupies almost all" the attention of the Apple car team.

The details of the deal are unclear, but the report explains that the breakdown in talks with Mercedes-Benz and BMW represents a sign that Apple has been struggling with its self-driving car project and its research scope has been shrinking.

Apple's current road test fleet in California is growing. According to reports, Apple's "Project Titan" has been shelved and its research direction has changed from vehicle manufacturing to autonomous driving software system platform.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.