Apple’s autonomous cars need much more human help than its rivals

(FILES) In this file photo taken on June 2, 2014, attendees gather at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference at the Moscone West center in San Francisco, California. - Apple acknowledged on January 25, 2019, that it has trimmed its team devoted to self-driving car technology but stressed that its still in the race. Apple's comment came in response to a CNBC report that the staff of a secretive Project Titan was reduced this week by more than 200 people, some of whom were transferred to jobs elsewhere at the California-based technology group. (Photo by JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Apple Inc’s autonomous test vehicles are relying on significantly more human intervention than Alphabet Inc’s Waymo or General Motors Co’s Cruise cars, an indication the iPhone maker may lag well behind on the technology. 

Test drivers disengaged the autonomous mode on Apple’s cars once almost every mile, based on data the company disclosed in an annual report to California’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Waymo’s cars went about 11,017 miles between disengagements, and Cruise’s went 5,205 miles.