However, as we discover each year before the introduction of a new iPhone generation, leaks still occur in the Apple sphere, and despite the company investigating such instances in a manner reminiscent of the FBI, one particular case eventually involved the authorities as well.
Xiaolang Zhang, a former Apple engineer involved in various significant projects at the company, including the self-driving vehicle technology intended for a potential Apple car codenamed Project Titan, is at the center of this investigation. Development of the vehicle, which insiders claim began in 2014, is still ongoing.
An official inquiry revealed that Zhang took time off for parental leave and traveled to China, ultimately leaving the tech behemoth to join XMotors, a Chinese startup that specializes in self-driving technology. This move raised suspicions.
Apple’s teams examined Zhang’s work devices and alerted the FBI when they discovered that the former engineer had extracted multiple confidential documents related to Project Titan. One particular file contained a 25-page document outlining a circuit board for self-driving cars, which Apple had considered for use in the Apple Car.
In 2018, the FBI pressed charges against Zhang. Initially pleading not guilty, he changed his plea to guilty in 2022.
Recently, the United States District Court announced the sentence after six years, with Zhang being sentenced to 120 days in prison and ordered to pay $145K in restitution. Additionally, he will serve three years on supervised release.
Apple has declined to comment on the sentence.
Meanwhile, the iPhone manufacturer continues to work on the Apple Car. The latest unofficial information suggests a potential launch in 2026. Apple has been repeatedly delaying the vehicle’s release date due to obstacles encountered during the development phase.
Initially, Apple aimed for the vehicle to possess full self-driving capabilities. The company envisioned an innovative approach with a mobile living space, even considering a design without a steering wheel and pedals. However, this idea was eventually abandoned. A 2023 report indicated that Apple modified the project to include a more conventional approach, including steering wheels, pedals, and limited self-driving capabilities.
The most recent information regarding the development phase indicates that Apple has once again scaled back its ambitions in the automotive sector. The tech giant is now prioritizing the timely launch of the car and is willing to forgo more innovative systems. Apple is concerned about potential delays and wants to release the first-generation model while reserving certain innovative technologies for the second-generation car. If the first car launches in 2026 or 2028, the second model is expected to debut early in the next decade.
According to the Source autoevolution.com