Apple buys start-up Drive.ai days before its extinction

Apple has confirmed it has purchased struggling start-up Drive.ai, an autonomous shuttle ride-hailing service once worth US$200 million.

Founded in 2015 by machine learning researchers from Stanford University, Drive.ai has been running in Texas as a self-driving service. On June 25, it expressed its intention to close permanently, laying off 90 employees.

Drive.ai rose to fame for using deep learning to recognise and avoid objects on the road. In 2018, Drive.ai conducted fixed-route tests with its AVs without human safety drivers on public roads.

The fleet of modified Nissan NV200s used by Drive.ai were highlighter orange, with ‘self-driving vehicle’ bold on the side. They featured four LED screens, one on the hood, two above each of the front tyres and one on the rear that displays messages to pedestrians and anyone in close proximity to the car.

Apple purchased Drive.ai’s assets, including its autonomous cars.