Rumored Apple-linked firm buys Arizona vehicle testing site
Amid "Apple Car" rumors, an automotive testing site in Arizona reportedly used by Apple has been purchased by the mysterious firm who has leased the site for years.
Credit: AppleInsider
The 5,458-acre site is located near Phoenix, Arizona and was formerly used by Chrysler as a vehicle proving ground. Delaware-based company Route 14 Investment Partners LLC has purchased the site for $125 million in cash, AZ Big Media reported Friday.
Route 14 is an entity managed by the law office of Greenberg Traurig, hiding its true ownership, though some believe that the company is connected to Apple.
Back in November 2017, it was reported that Route 14 leased the Arizona testing site in 2015. The company itself was incorporated in 2015 in Delaware and was registered under the Corporation Trust Company. As media reports indicated at the time, Apple has a mail dropbox at the CTC office.
On Friday, MacRumors reported that it had seen a deed and an assumption of an existing development agreement confirming that the purchase date was June 25, 2021.
Although no direct link has been confirmed between Route 14 and Apple, news of the test site's purchase comes amid a slew of rumors surrounding Apple's self-driving car project.
Back in August, reports suggested that Apple had made contact with multiple electric vehicle component manufacturers. More recently, a report on Thursday indicated that Apple executives might be visiting car manufacturers in Korea and Japan. On Friday, news broke that Apple had apparently hired two ex-Mercedes engineers to serve on a special projects team.
In addition to the supply chain reports, Apple also tests self-driving vehicles on public roads in California. Recently, the Cupertino tech giant expanded its fleet of autonomous test vehicles, suggesting a ramp-up in development.
Read on AppleInsider
Credit: AppleInsider
The 5,458-acre site is located near Phoenix, Arizona and was formerly used by Chrysler as a vehicle proving ground. Delaware-based company Route 14 Investment Partners LLC has purchased the site for $125 million in cash, AZ Big Media reported Friday.
Route 14 is an entity managed by the law office of Greenberg Traurig, hiding its true ownership, though some believe that the company is connected to Apple.
Back in November 2017, it was reported that Route 14 leased the Arizona testing site in 2015. The company itself was incorporated in 2015 in Delaware and was registered under the Corporation Trust Company. As media reports indicated at the time, Apple has a mail dropbox at the CTC office.
On Friday, MacRumors reported that it had seen a deed and an assumption of an existing development agreement confirming that the purchase date was June 25, 2021.
Although no direct link has been confirmed between Route 14 and Apple, news of the test site's purchase comes amid a slew of rumors surrounding Apple's self-driving car project.
Back in August, reports suggested that Apple had made contact with multiple electric vehicle component manufacturers. More recently, a report on Thursday indicated that Apple executives might be visiting car manufacturers in Korea and Japan. On Friday, news broke that Apple had apparently hired two ex-Mercedes engineers to serve on a special projects team.
In addition to the supply chain reports, Apple also tests self-driving vehicles on public roads in California. Recently, the Cupertino tech giant expanded its fleet of autonomous test vehicles, suggesting a ramp-up in development.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
What it is probably supposed to say is that in November 2017 it was discovered that Route 14 leased the site in 2015.
Note that sloppy writing on the Internet is sadly commonplace.
My guess is it’s supposed to be, “Back in November 2017, [somebody reported] Route 14 leased the Arizona testing site in 2015.”
Having said that, Tesla is not without its flaws. The materials and paint finish on its vehicles is underwhelming in some cases. Sometimes the fit and finish is underwhelming. Depends on the day the vehicle was manufactured. While greatly improved from earlier days, they still have more “production hell” to go through. Tesla interior design, while clean, is a bit staid. Apple has the potential to do a much better job on the physical product with UI, UX, and human factors. The downside here is that those attributes will be easy for competitors to copy and improve.
If you love fiddling with everything then the Tesla UI is perfect for you. If you just want to get in and drive then it isn't.
I wonder when Tesla will implement the ability to turn on the system, select drive, and take off without waiting for the system to 'start up'?
I can do that in my EV.
Tesla might be ahead in some things but there are areas where they are 10 years behind the competition.
Where is the HUD for a Tesla? I've had one on my EV for almost 3 years.
I watched the Tesla luvvies drool over the Model Y at Fully Charged yesterday. It was embarrassing. We are so lucky here in Europe to have lots and lots of choices in what EV we drive. Tesla is not the only game in town here. Unless they come out with a car for under £30,000 OTR then they will lose market share to the established vehicle makers. The cheapest Model 3 is much too expensive for average folk.
As for Tesla, they have the same technology as the other EV makers — lithium batteries, and software. While fetishized in the US, Tesla isn’t the top EV brand in Europe.
The technology gap between Tesla and its rivals is significant. It should not be underestimated. I can’t see competitors catching up soon. Elon Musk is on a tear right now. He’s not normal. I mean, I don’t believe in space aliens, but …. Elon Musk is a damn space alien! 👽 😆
they also gave the safest cars in the world. a tesla (i think it was the model x i could be wrong this) was the first to receive a 5-star safety rating.
they also have a manufacturing advantage. check out their giga presses. they can use one part for something another manufacturer needs 250. their manufacturing is more efficient. (and before you talk about quality control, their Shanghai factory has excellent quality control. their new berlin and texas factories will have the same great qc)
they have a software advantage. no other automaker makes software as good as tesla. their suffrage is on the level of apple and google.
the specs of their cars are generally better than same priced ones from other carmakers
they make an insane 25% profit on their 40-60k cars. most ICE cars have a profit margins of less than 5%. most car makers make NO profit on their electric offerings today
i could go on and on