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NEW YORK, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Another big name is joining the world's pursuit for self-driving cars, with Apple acknowledging for the first time that it is investing "heavily" in building such a car.
According to a letter from the company to the U.S. transport regulators which is revealed by some media this week, Apple declared its interest in self-driving vehicle technology, adding that the company "is excited about the potential of automated systems in many areas, including transportation."
The letter, written by Apple's Director of Product Integrity Steve Kenner on Nov. 22 to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, urges the U.S. regulator not to introduce too many rules on the testing of self-driving cars.
"Established manufacturers and new entrants should be treated equally," it said.
There have long been speculations about the computer and iPhone maker's plans for expanding into transportation but it has not publicly admitted them.
A few companies are currently investing in self-driving cars, including Google which is reportedly already testing its cars on the roads, and the electric carmaker Tesla, which has announced that all the cars it now builds will have the hardware installed to drive on their own.
