Report says Apple's quest to produce a viable self-driving car stuck in low gear

'The Information' has reported that tech giant Apple's self-driving car efforts are stuck in low gear.With its team plagued by setbacks as rivals race ahead, the company's quest to produce a viable self-driving car remains stalled despite years of work.

According to the report, change in ever-shifting goals and leadership along with a lack of faith in the project by high-ranking Apple executives is the reason that self-driving cars have not been introduced by the company.

Since the death of its iconic co-founder Steve Jobs in October 2011, there has been buzz surrounding a potential Apple car with the vehicles being touted as the first new "big thing" from the company.

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Citing interviews with people who worked on the project, 'The Information' reported that self-driving Apple cars have had trouble on streets near its Silicon Valley headquarters.

They strayed from its lanes, bumped curbs, and almost hit a jogger legally crossing a road.

During an interview released by the New York Times, Apple chief Tim Cook early last year portrayed self-driving cars as an ideal match for the technology titan.

Cook told journalist Kara Swisher's "Sway" podcast "An autonomous car is a robot and so there are a lot of things you can do with autonomy; we will see what Apple does."

Hinting at an option to build an autonomous-driving technology platform used by automakers, Cook expressed admiration for electric carmaker Tesla.

In 2016, Apple first revealed its self-driving tech aspirations and views autonomous driving systems as a "core technology" for the future.

(With inputs from agencies)

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