• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Apple

Apple Is Buying Lots of Space for Self-Driving Cars: Report

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 6, 2016, 12:34 PM ET
Apple CarPlay in 2016 Chevy Cruze
Apple's CarPlay interface.Courtesy General Motors

Apple could be in the market for a massive amount of space to get into self-driving cars.

Apple (AAPL) is eyeing 800,000 square feet of space to use for its self-driving cars, Victor Coleman, CEO of Hudson Pacific Properties, a company that owns several properties across the San Francisco Bay Area, said during a call with analysts on Thursday, according to The Wall Street Journal, which listened to the call. He added that Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL) is also eyeing 400,000 square feet for the same effort.

Both Apple and Google declined to comment on the report.

The comments come as Apple and Google have taken different tacks in seeming efforts to build autonomous cars. Google has for years shown off its technology and is eyeing partnerships with traditional carmakers to build self-driving vehicles. Apple, meanwhile, has been coy about any plans for a self-driving car, but has dropped some hints—and made some key hires—that suggest it’s getting into the market.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Last month, in fact, Apple reportedly hired top Tesla (TSLA) executive Chris Porritt. In his former position at Tesla, Porritt served as vice president of vehicle engineering. While Apple didn’t confirm the hire or what he might be doing at the company, it’s hard to believe that Porritt, whose entire career has been devoted to car technology, is doing anything but working on Apple’s long-rumored vehicle.

However, Apple regularly buys or leases property across the Bay Area, which in many cases have nothing to do with cars. The reason the idea of cars was even brought forth this time around was that Coleman specifically said that Apple is “looking to take down (the space) for their autonomous cars.”

Coleman revealing that Apple is working on cars in his company’s buildings is perhaps no surprise. Indeed, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has called Apple’s moves into the car business an “open secret.” That said, Apple has been loath to speak publicly about any plans.

For more about Apple, watch: [fortune-brightcove videoid=4200046690001]

Regardless, with the amount of evidence piling up, it’s appearing increasingly likely that Apple is at least considering getting into the car business. Exactly how it will do so, however, remains to be seen. The company, given its rash of hirings of Tesla engineers, among others, would likely move into the autonomous car market with a vehicle of its own, though it’s possible that it could have other plans.

Either way, Apple isn’t talking and won’t say what it has planned until it’s ready. And exactly when it’ll be ready is unknown. At this point, most analysts believe Apple won’t get a car on the road until 2020.

Like everything else with Apple, we’ll just have to wait and see.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

AIMeta
It’s ‘kind of jarring’: AI labs like Meta, Deepseek, and Xai earned some of the worst grades possible on an existential safety index
By Patrick Kulp and Tech BrewDecember 5, 2025
6 hours ago
RetailConsumer Spending
U.S. consumers are so financially strained they put more than $1 billion on buy-now, pay later services during Black Friday and Cyber Monday
By Jeena Sharma and Retail BrewDecember 5, 2025
6 hours ago
Elon Musk
Big TechSpaceX
Musk’s SpaceX discusses record valuation, IPO as soon as 2026
By Edward Ludlow, Loren Grush, Lizette Chapman, Eric Johnson and BloombergDecember 5, 2025
6 hours ago
data center
EnvironmentData centers
The rise of AI reasoning models comes with a big energy tradeoff
By Rachel Metz, Dina Bass and BloombergDecember 5, 2025
6 hours ago
netflix
Arts & EntertainmentAntitrust
Hollywood writers say Warner takeover ‘must be blocked’
By Thomas Buckley and BloombergDecember 5, 2025
6 hours ago
Personal FinanceLoans
5 ways to use a home equity line of credit (HELOC)
By Joseph HostetlerDecember 5, 2025
6 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
Two months into the new fiscal year and the U.S. government is already spending more than $10 billion a week servicing national debt
By Eleanor PringleDecember 4, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
‘Godfather of AI’ says Bill Gates and Elon Musk are right about the future of work—but he predicts mass unemployment is on its way
By Preston ForeDecember 4, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Nearly 4 million new manufacturing jobs are coming to America as boomers retire—but it's the one trade job Gen Z doesn't want
By Emma BurleighDecember 4, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits he works 7 days a week, including holidays, in a constant 'state of anxiety' out of fear of going bankrupt
By Jessica CoacciDecember 4, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Real Estate
‘There is no Mamdani effect’: Manhattan luxury home sales surge after mayoral election, undercutting predictions of doom and escape to Florida
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 4, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Tariffs and the $38 trillion national debt: Kevin Hassett sees ’big reductions’ in deficit while Scott Bessent sees a ‘shrinking ice cube’
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 4, 2025
1 day ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.