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The connection between Apple Car and a mysterious vehicle proving ground in Arizona has become stronger, with new evidence suggesting that the facility indeed belongs to Apple for autonomous vehicle testing.
Speculation that Apple is going to enter the autonomous car industry has been going on for several years, supported by numerous patents and rumors. However, it is difficult to keep such a project secret, especially during tests on public roads.
According to a report from Car and Driver, it appears that Apple is utilizing an Arizona proving ground that was previously rumored to have been purchased by a shell corporation called Route 14 Investment Partners. Various pieces of evidence have emerged, including the presence of an identical vehicle and sensor housing at the facility, as well as signs pointing towards Apple.
Photos taken by Car and Driver show a fourth-generation Lexus RX equipped with a sensor unit being driven at a facility in Arizona. Interestingly, the same car has been spotted in California, and cross-referencing it with California Autonomous Mileage Reports confirms its association with Apple.
Another accidental discovery further strengthens the connection. While following a sign pointing to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the reporters uncovered potential ties between Apple's Ken Lynch and Route 14 Investment Partners.
Although nothing has been confirmed, it appears that kl@route14investment.com, belonging to Ken Lynch, shares similarities with the Ken Lynch working at Apple, including phone numbers with Silicon Valley area codes and nearly identical outgoing messages.
While it is important to note that Apple Car is not expected to be announced in the near future, if at all, these findings indicate that Apple is actively pushing forward with its development.