Apple hires senior Tesla engineer as 'Project Titan' evidence mounts
The alleged hiring war between Apple and Tesla continues behind the scenes, with one of the electric carmaker's top engineers switching sides and joining Apple, presumably to bolster its rumored automotive project.
Tesla's upcoming Model X crossover.
Tesla senior engineer Jamie Carlson has joined Apple, his LinkedIn profile reveals, as discovered by Reuters. He was joined by at least six others with experience in developing self-driving cars, who are now working for the Cupertino, Calif., iPhone maker.
The news follows last week's revelation that Apple has held discussions with a former naval base in California to use its facilities. Other companies known to be working on self-driving cars have turned to the GoMentum station, though it remains unknown whether Apple's project is indeed a self-driving vehicle.
An AppleInsider investigation conducted earlier this year revealed that Apple has a secret facility in Sunnyvale, Calif., where sources say the bulk of the work on a concept known as "Project Titan" has been underway. The automotive project is said to be shrouded in secrecy inside a top-secret building code-named SG5.
As for Apple's relationship with Tesla, the electric vehicle company's founder, Elon Musk, said earlier this year that he believes Tesla has wooed about five times as many engineers from Apple than the other way around. He also revealed that Apple has been trying "very hard" to poach Tesla engineers for a secret project.
A source revealed to AppleInsider in February that Musk was seen in deep conversation with Apple's head designer, Jony Ive, at an exclusive Oscars afterparty.
It's also been reported that Apple and Tesla officials have met privately. Musk himself confirmed those talks, but said a sale of his company to Apple is "very unlikely."
Tesla's upcoming Model X crossover.
Tesla senior engineer Jamie Carlson has joined Apple, his LinkedIn profile reveals, as discovered by Reuters. He was joined by at least six others with experience in developing self-driving cars, who are now working for the Cupertino, Calif., iPhone maker.
The news follows last week's revelation that Apple has held discussions with a former naval base in California to use its facilities. Other companies known to be working on self-driving cars have turned to the GoMentum station, though it remains unknown whether Apple's project is indeed a self-driving vehicle.
An AppleInsider investigation conducted earlier this year revealed that Apple has a secret facility in Sunnyvale, Calif., where sources say the bulk of the work on a concept known as "Project Titan" has been underway. The automotive project is said to be shrouded in secrecy inside a top-secret building code-named SG5.
As for Apple's relationship with Tesla, the electric vehicle company's founder, Elon Musk, said earlier this year that he believes Tesla has wooed about five times as many engineers from Apple than the other way around. He also revealed that Apple has been trying "very hard" to poach Tesla engineers for a secret project.
A source revealed to AppleInsider in February that Musk was seen in deep conversation with Apple's head designer, Jony Ive, at an exclusive Oscars afterparty.
It's also been reported that Apple and Tesla officials have met privately. Musk himself confirmed those talks, but said a sale of his company to Apple is "very unlikely."
Comments
I'm I the only one who thinks the Tesla fake grille is really ugly?
No. Fake (non-functional) grilles are stupid. (Edit) They're like fake wheel covers.
Like the new Buick commercials where they can't find the new car because it looks so different... People will see the Tesla on the street and say, "Hey look at the new Buick SUV!" Then turn around and be on their way.
Opps, Tesla. Outta luck.
I think these recent hires should put to rest any lingering doubts about Apple's intentions.
Posters here (and elsewhere) may doubt Apple's intentions. I seriously hope competitors aren't. If so, they'll be just like the smartphone industry at the introduction of the iPhone. I truly believe Apple's car will debut much sooner than many expect.
Mechanical Design Engineer
Apple
March 2015 – Present (6 months)Cupertino, CA
Still prototyping. Now for Industrial Designers.
Does anyone really think Apple's industrial designers are prototyping CarPlay on steroids? :no:
I understand the skepticism. I get that some think it's lunacy for Apple to be designing it's own car. But I think all the signs point to Apple doing exactly that. Of course there's no guarantee this research will ultimately turned into a real car for sale but there's no doubt in my mind that's what Apple is working on. They're not going to be beholden to the whims of automakers. They're going to own the entire widget.
I'm I the only one who thinks the Tesla fake grille is really ugly?
That makes two of us.
... People will see the Tesla on the street and say, "Hey look at the new Buick SUV!" ...
Or something like "That's odd. I thought Oldsmobile went out of business already."
One of the new hires, Megan McLain's updated LinkedIn profile now says:
Mechanical Design Engineer
Apple
March 2015 – Present (6 months)Cupertino, CA
Still prototyping. Now for Industrial Designers.
Does anyone really think Apple's industrial designers are prototyping CarPlay on steroids?
I understand the skepticism. I get that some think it's lunacy for Apple to be designing it's own car. But I think all the signs point to Apple doing exactly that. Of course there's no guarantee this research will ultimately turned into a real car for sale but there's no doubt in my mind that's what Apple is working on. They're not going to be beholden to the whims of automakers. They're going to own the entire widget.
I'm onboard with the idea now. All of these huge hires just to test CarPlay integration would make no sense.
And ol' Musk was bragging how he was taking Apple's people.
Apple takes his senior engineer.
Why is it fake? Tesla cars have cooling systems as well, that need radiators to dissipate heat. The most obvious location for any radiators are in the front of the vehicle.
I agree. For an advanced infotainment system you'd still want a variety of engineers of all backgrounds to ensure it works well with the vehicle it's integrated in. But Apple appears to be hiring too many senior engineers for a simple project.
Of course it's happening. Apple sells products not pieces of technology for other people's products. And why is it that Google is lauded for all these "moon shots" and doing all these different things yet when Apple even slightly veers from making computers or computer software panic sets in? Yet at the same time everyone is worried that Apple is a one trick pony and are constantly complaining about the lack of innovation from Cupertino.
Apple better hurry. I want that Tesla crossover so bad it hurts. If Apple doesn't have a car by the time I need to replace my current auto I am going to have to go with Tesla....
Mmm. I missed that.
Did people say it was a silly idea, or did they say it was silly to allow Google to sell yet more information about your life by allowing them to track your movements in a car?
The question is … when?
Apple could be working on a subsystem, maybe an electric Powertrain with significant enhancements in order to create a step change in extending battery range.
Already systems exist that take GPS and map data as well as driving conditions to increase the battery range by adjusting driving parameters. Apple might take this one step further with tight integration of the apple ecosystem and services.