The car, a modified Lexus RX450h with autonomous sensors, was rear-ended by a human driver in a Nissan Leaf.

Humans were unhurt, but the machines suffered moderate damage.

Apple’s car is understood to be part of an ambitious but secretive programme – Project Titan. Apple has not commented on the 24 August collision, understood to be the company’s first.

Speculation as to what the project seeks to achieve ranges from a fully-fledged Apple car – or just working with existing car makers to provide autonomous technology.

Apple’s self-driving programme had been public knowledge, It was revealed that the company now has 66 such cars on the roads, with 111 drivers registered to operate them.
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