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Apple reportedly seeking 800,000 square feet of property for car project

By Cookie Monster - on 9 May 2016, 12:00am

Apple reportedly seeking 800,000 square feet of property for car project

 Image source: MacRumors

Apple is expanding its research and development operations for its smart car project.

Victor Coleman, chief executive of Hudson Pacific Properties Inc, revealed that he is seeing a lot of demand for autonomous-car research and development facilities. Apple and Google joined the usual list of luxury car brands such as BMW and Mercedes now in the marketplace looking for space.

Coleman - “We’re seeing the Toyotas of the world, the Teslas of the world, BMWs, Mercedes. Ford now is out in the marketplace looking for space,” he said on the landlord’s quarterly investor call. “I haven’t even mentioned the 400,000 square feet that Google’s looking to take down and the 800,000 square feet that Apple’s looking to take down for their autonomous cars as well.”

The Wall Street Journal also reported that Apple is expanding its smart car team which had 600 employees last year. Apple's smart car project is taking shape; it recently hired former Telsa Vice President (VP) of Vehicle Engineering and former Aston Martin Chief Engineer Chris Porritt.

It is also said to have partnered with Austrian-based automotive manufacturer Magna to build the Apple Car. Registration of three domain names - apple.car, apple.cars and apple.auto - were also registered in December 2015.

Source: The Wall Street Journal via 9to5Mac

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