According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple's decade-old project has shifted its focus from creating a fully self-driving car to something more in line with Tesla's electric vehicles. The initial ambition for a Level 5 autonomous system (full automation) has given way to a Level 4 system (full automation in certain circumstances) and has now settled at Level 2+ (partial automation). To put it into perspective, Tesla's Autopilot is currently at Level 2, while Level 2+ doesn't yet have an official description.
Earlier rumors and reports suggested a car without a traditional steering wheel or pedals, but it appears that Apple is leaning towards a more conventional car design now. The company has also been in discussions with potential manufacturing partners in Europe to bring its updated plans to fruition. Bloomberg notes that Apple still aims to offer a Level 4 autonomous system in the future, although the timeline remains uncertain.
Source: Bloomberg
