• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • 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

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
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
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • 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
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

aetna
LawCrime
Man carrying AR-style gun arrested near Aetna headquarters, police say
By The Associated PressApril 17, 2026
31 seconds ago
mandani
PoliticsNew York
Zohran Mamdani’s wife apologizes for ‘harmful’ social media posts surfacing from her past
By Anthony Izaguirre and The Associated PressApril 17, 2026
3 minutes ago
trump
EuropeIran
Trump still furious about NATO: ‘useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!’
By Sylvie Corbet, Jill Lawless and The Associated PressApril 17, 2026
6 minutes ago
iran
EnergyIran
Iran says it fully reopens Strait of Hormuz as Trump says blockade will ‘remain in force’
By Kareem Chehayeb, Aamer Madhani, Elena Becatoros and The Associated PressApril 17, 2026
13 minutes ago
Sam Altman holds hands in the air with Narendra Modi on his left. Altman and Dario Amodei do not hold hands.
AIOpenAI
Illinois is OpenAI and Anthropic’s latest battleground as the state tries to assess liability for catastrophes caused by AI
By Jacqueline MunisApril 17, 2026
40 minutes ago
Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Block
SuccessLayoffs
Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey breaks down his thought process when he laid off 40% of his Block staff because of AI
By Emma BurleighApril 17, 2026
52 minutes ago

Most Popular

A world going broke: IMF says America's $39 trillion national debt is actually a global problem—and AI may be the only rescue
Economy
A world going broke: IMF says America's $39 trillion national debt is actually a global problem—and AI may be the only rescue
By Nick LichtenbergApril 16, 2026
21 hours ago
Jeff Bezos pledged $10 billion for climate change. With the 2030 clock ticking, his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, is leading the charge to spend it
Environment
Jeff Bezos pledged $10 billion for climate change. With the 2030 clock ticking, his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, is leading the charge to spend it
By Sydney LakeApril 15, 2026
2 days ago
Pope Leo warned the world is in ‘big trouble’ if Elon Musk becomes the first trillionaire
Success
Pope Leo warned the world is in ‘big trouble’ if Elon Musk becomes the first trillionaire
By Preston ForeApril 17, 2026
7 hours ago
Germany already told its workers to ditch four-day weeks and work-life balance. Now the government wants to cut their pay for calling in sick, too
Success
Germany already told its workers to ditch four-day weeks and work-life balance. Now the government wants to cut their pay for calling in sick, too
By Orianna Rosa RoyleApril 16, 2026
1 day ago
MacKenzie Scott is bypassing the Ivy League and rewriting the $79 billion higher ed playbook by giving to HBCUs and community colleges
Politics
MacKenzie Scott is bypassing the Ivy League and rewriting the $79 billion higher ed playbook by giving to HBCUs and community colleges
By Sydney LakeApril 16, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of April 16, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of April 16, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerApril 16, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 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.