Apple Reportedly Settled With Volkswagen As Driverless Car Partner, Not Its First Choice

Most people are familiar with the feeling of disappointment after getting rejected by their first choices in anything, be it friend, lover, or school. However, Apple is not most people and it would seem that the iPhone maker has been rejected by its initial options with regards to the partnership over developing self-driving technology. As a result, it had to settle with Volkswagen.

The two companies apparently made the partnership official and was reported Wednesday night, Business Insider reports. One of the initial projects to come out of the partnership is equipping VW’s T6 Transporter van with the self-driving technology that it has been cultivating.

Fleets of these vans will then be used to shuttle employees, which is just the beginning of the ambitions that Apple has with regards to its self-driving goals. It’s worth noting, however, that such goals almost didn’t pan out since Apple was not exactly having a good time finding car makers to help it achieve them.

As The New York Times reports, the iPhone maker first approached BMW and Mercedes-Benz to form a partnership with in order install its technology in actual vehicles that could start printing money. Unfortunately for the Cupertino firm, neither of these German auto giants seemed interested enough to pursue the matter.

What’s worse is that its deal with Volkswagen was something that hardly anyone even knew about or reported. Secrecy isn’t anything new with Apple, but this time, it seems it was more out of a lack of interest than anything else as well hints a touch of desperation.

Apple’s efforts to develop a driverless car program has suffered numerous setbacks. From its failures to secure a commitment and interest from other automakers to the various changes in both the direction and leadership in its driverless car division, morale has reportedly gone down quite a bit. Former Apple employees even revealed that hundreds of people have left the project because it was going nowhere.