Apple’s car may be electric AND self-driving

I’m sure by now we’ve all heard about how Apple is working on its own electric vehicle but some new reports are suggesting that the vehicle will be self-driving as well. Whereas Google is looking to develop the software that will power the autonomous vehicles of other companies, Apple is looking to develop the software AND the vehicle.

Technology giant Apple (AAPL.O) is looking beyond mobile devices to learn how to make a self-driving electric car, and is talking to experts at carmakers and automotive suppliers, a senior auto industry source familiar with the discussions said on Saturday. The Cupertino, California-based maker of phones, computers and, soon, watches is exploring how to make an entire vehicle, not just designing automotive software or individual components, the auto industry source said. “They don’t appear to want a lot of help from carmakers,” said the source, who declined to be named. Apple is gathering advice on parts and production methods, focusing on electric and connected-car technologies, while studying the potential for automated driving, the source said.