Mysterious Van With Strange Apparatus on Roof Spotted on Calif. Streets — and It's Leased to Apple

A mysterious dark blue minivan with several cameras attached to its roof has been spotted roaming the streets of a Northern California city — and no one is quite sure what it's doing.

A mysterious dark blue minivan with cameras attached to its roof is attracting attention in a Northern California city. (Image source: Screen grab via KPIX-TV / ClayCord.com)

According to KPIX-TV, the vehicle has attracted a lot of attention from residents who have seen it on the streets of Concord.

"I wondered why it was down there. It didn't have any markings on the — like the sides or anything, so I couldn't figure out what it was," resident Melissa Lewis said.

A mysterious dark blue minivan with cameras attached to its roof is attracting attention in a Northern California city. (Image source: Screen grab via KPIX-TV / ClayCord.com)

Technology analyst Rob Enderle told KPIX that he doesn't think the car is simply one that surveys areas for maps.

“Too many cameras,” he said. “It has cameras that are angled down at all four corners of the vehicle.”

Some individuals have noted the vehicle in question looks similar to cars thought to be self-driving seen in other areas of the country.

However, the Department of Motor Vehicles told KPIX that the minivan was leased to Apple which is not one of the companies with a testing permit for a driverless vehicle.

Nevertheless, Enderle said it might still be a possibility.

“It can be a partnership. You know, they have partnerships with a variety of the carmakers,” he told the local CBS affiliate. “Just because they’re leasing the car doesn’t necessarily mean it’s their project.”

When reached by phone, an Apple representative declined to comment to KPIX.

This story was updated to include more information.

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