Apple poaches Porsche VP of chassis development for Apple Car development
The Apple Car may be taking another step to reality, with Apple reportedly hiring Porsche's vice president in charge of chassis development.
Rumors and reports about the Apple Car are ramping up with claims it is edging closer to production. However, one new report suggests Apple is still working on refining the design of the vehicle itself.
Apple has allegedly taken on Dr. Manfred Harrer, the head of Porsche's Cayenne and chassis development boss, sources of Business Insider claim. It is unclear what role Harrer will take, but it is thought he would be involved in creating the chassis for the vehicle.
Harrer was formerly an engineer at Audi, then joined BMW to become an expert in steering, before moving to Porsche. By 2016, he was in command of overall chassis development at the car producer, and was promoted to Cayenne series manager months before his departure.
His move to Apple is said to be more for the challenge and opportunity than for the money. Sources say he earned more than 600,000 euro ($721,000) annually at Porsche, and is likely to be paid upward from a million dollars in his new role.
There has yet to be any announcement of Harrer's move, with his LinkedIn showing his continued employment at Porsche, but he was said to have said goodbye to colleagues at the end of 2020.
Harrer's not the only major hire to have moved from Porsche to Apple. In 2016, Apple brought on Porsche race car director Alexander Hitzinger to the project.
Rumors and reports about the Apple Car are ramping up with claims it is edging closer to production. However, one new report suggests Apple is still working on refining the design of the vehicle itself.
Apple has allegedly taken on Dr. Manfred Harrer, the head of Porsche's Cayenne and chassis development boss, sources of Business Insider claim. It is unclear what role Harrer will take, but it is thought he would be involved in creating the chassis for the vehicle.
Harrer was formerly an engineer at Audi, then joined BMW to become an expert in steering, before moving to Porsche. By 2016, he was in command of overall chassis development at the car producer, and was promoted to Cayenne series manager months before his departure.
His move to Apple is said to be more for the challenge and opportunity than for the money. Sources say he earned more than 600,000 euro ($721,000) annually at Porsche, and is likely to be paid upward from a million dollars in his new role.
There has yet to be any announcement of Harrer's move, with his LinkedIn showing his continued employment at Porsche, but he was said to have said goodbye to colleagues at the end of 2020.
Harrer's not the only major hire to have moved from Porsche to Apple. In 2016, Apple brought on Porsche race car director Alexander Hitzinger to the project.
Comments
The only problem I see with the E-GMP is the 310 mile range estimate is based on the rather unrealistic WTLP test cycle they love in Europe.
https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/what-is-the-hyundai-e-gmp-platform-for-electric-vehicles
Edit 2: and if there was a thread I missed (v possible), just because they’re using a base platform doesn’t mean the entire suspension can’t be completely reworked. All this stuff is pretty flexible and modular these days.
Same old, same old: the iPhone isn't a Foxconn phone (not to mention other companies assemble iPhones); or, it's Apple Silicon, not TSMC silicon.
You see, because the 911 design doesn't really change much between models, Porsche has a reputation for just reusing their designs. Similar to how Apple is often accused of not doing any real innovation because the thing they shipped is a similar shape, despite what changes have been made inside...
Apple aren't the only company in that position, as I mentioned about Porsche above, but they do seem to cop it more than most in that regard.
That being said, the effort these hires suggest is going into chassis design seems odd to me given a largely self driving stylish minivan/crossover, as I keep seeing claimed. Hopefully Apple is able to hit a sweet spot between driver engagement/enjoyment and self driving when desired.
The basic Plaid model has a 320 mile range, but that's likely on the much more accurate EPA test cycle.
Of course we don't know, but which one SHOULD they use?
Apple looks to be contract manufacturing a car two generations behind Tesla.
Apple is re-gearing up the Titan project that they put on the back burner. Seems more motivated to satisfy Wall Street than making a great product. I figure they need to get this out within two years or they won’t be able to catch Tesla.