'Apple Car' project loses original project manager Benjamin Lyon

AppleInsider

Sensor expert and senior team manager Benjamin Lyon left the "Apple Car" project for a new startup company.

Apple loses key senior manager for 'Apple Car' project

The longtime manager was one of the first members of the Project Titan team and has lasted through its many iterations, until now. The "Apple Car" project has been under heavy industry scrutiny as Apple seeks out manufacturing partners for its eventual launch.

According to Bloomberg, Lyon was one of 11 managers who reported to project vice president Doug Field. The team has gone through many transitions and changes since its inception in 2014.

Apple's Project Titan could be an "Apple Car" or an array of self-driving systems meant for manufacturers to implement into cars. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects an "Apple Car" launch in 2025 at the earliest.

Benjamin Lyon left Apple for a satellite and space startup called Astra. It is unknown why Lyon left, but Apple's Project Titan has been in development for nearly seven years with no released product.

boxcatcher

The amount of noise and seeming churn around this project is insane

tmay

boxcatcher said:

The amount of noise and seeming churn around this project is insane

Yet Apple is confident enough to keep from jumping the gun and producing a shitty product.

Maybe an Apple Car will never happen, but if it does, it will happen with success.

chadbag

Maybe he was on the losing end of an internal deliberation.  Maybe he just got burned out.   Maybe the startup offered the intellectual adrenaline rush he craved.   Maybe his sensor stuff was basically “done”. 

People move for all sorts of reasons. 

dk49

I always wonder how these types of departures turn out for the previous company? That Apple employee knows a ton about the Apple Car. And while I am sure he must have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Apple when he joined, he could always unofficially talk about it to its new employer. In fact, I have a strong feeling that the startup hired him not just because of his experience and skills, but also about what he knows about the project. You could always say that Apple must have filed parents to protect its IP, but then everything is not about patents. Ideas are equally important. Even if he tells the new employer what Apple is planning to do exactly, that could be a a real gem of information for that startup, since they could start building a similar stuff in their car. Thus impacting the uniqueness of Apple Car.

zroger73

I think someone has Ben Lyon about this Apple Car.

viclauyyc

dk49 said:

I always wonder how these types of departures turn out for the previous company? That Apple employee knows a ton about the Apple Car. And while I am sure he must have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Apple when he joined, he could always unofficially talk about it to its new employer. In fact, I have a strong feeling that the startup hired him not just because of his experience and skills, but also about what he knows about the project. You could always say that Apple must have filed parents to protect its IP, but then everything is not about patents. Ideas are equally important. Even if he tells the new employer what Apple is planning to do exactly, that could be a a real gem of information for that startup, since they could start building a similar stuff in their car. Thus impacting the uniqueness of Apple Car.

If I am a boss, I will not hire someone who disclose secret of previous company. Just imagine what he will do to my company after he left.

Also, once this leaks out, who will hire him in future. This is a end of career move.  

gmgravytrain

The dude probably got tired of waiting around to see an actual car be produced by Apple.  I realize a company shouldn't rush products but Apple seems to take a long time to complete a product.  I'm not saying it's bad, I'm just saying Apple should be able to move a bit faster as they have plenty of cash and resources, at least more than most companies.  Oh, well, it's a car and Apple certainly isn't an automaker.  Apple may have bitten off more than it can chew.  Apple is going to need a very good partner for this EV venture.

lkrupp

gmgravytrain said:

The dude probably got tired of waiting around to see an actual car be produced by Apple.  I realize a company shouldn't rush products but Apple seems to take a long time to complete a product.  I'm not saying it's bad, I'm just saying Apple should be able to move a bit faster as they have plenty of cash and resources, at least more than most companies.  Oh, well, it's a car and Apple certainly isn't an automaker.  Apple may have bitten off more than it can chew.  Apple is going to need a very good partner for this EV venture.

Gotta love the negative thinking here. It’s the difference between success and failure in life in general.

chadbag

dk49 said:

I always wonder how these types of departures turn out for the previous company? That Apple employee knows a ton about the Apple Car. And while I am sure he must have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Apple when he joined, he could always unofficially talk about it to its new employer. In fact, I have a strong feeling that the startup hired him not just because of his experience and skills, but also about what he knows about the project. You could always say that Apple must have filed parents to protect its IP, but then everything is not about patents. Ideas are equally important. Even if he tells the new employer what Apple is planning to do exactly, that could be a a real gem of information for that startup, since they could start building a similar stuff in their car. Thus impacting the uniqueness of Apple Car.

Except the new company is a “satellite and space” company.  The guy was supposedly an expert in sensors. 

iqatedo

chadbag said:

Except the new company is a “satellite and space” company.  The guy was supposedly an expert in sensors. 

Indeed  - https://astra.com/

gatorguy

chadbag said:

dk49 said:

I always wonder how these types of departures turn out for the previous company? That Apple employee knows a ton about the Apple Car. And while I am sure he must have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Apple when he joined, he could always unofficially talk about it to its new employer. In fact, I have a strong feeling that the startup hired him not just because of his experience and skills, but also about what he knows about the project. You could always say that Apple must have filed parents to protect its IP, but then everything is not about patents. Ideas are equally important. Even if he tells the new employer what Apple is planning to do exactly, that could be a a real gem of information for that startup, since they could start building a similar stuff in their car. Thus impacting the uniqueness of Apple Car.

Except the new company is a “satellite and space” company.  The guy was supposedly an expert in sensors. 

Techcrunch has a revealing article explaining it. 
https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/17/astra-hires-longtime-apple-veteran-benjamin-lyon-as-chief-engineer/?tpcc=ECTW2020

chadbag

gatorguy said:

chadbag said:

dk49 said:

I always wonder how these types of departures turn out for the previous company? That Apple employee knows a ton about the Apple Car. And while I am sure he must have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Apple when he joined, he could always unofficially talk about it to its new employer. In fact, I have a strong feeling that the startup hired him not just because of his experience and skills, but also about what he knows about the project. You could always say that Apple must have filed parents to protect its IP, but then everything is not about patents. Ideas are equally important. Even if he tells the new employer what Apple is planning to do exactly, that could be a a real gem of information for that startup, since they could start building a similar stuff in their car. Thus impacting the uniqueness of Apple Car.

Except the new company is a “satellite and space” company.  The guy was supposedly an expert in sensors. 

Techcrunch has a revealing article explaining it. 
https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/17/astra-hires-longtime-apple-veteran-benjamin-lyon-as-chief-engineer/?tpcc=ECTW2020

Thanks.  That was interesting.  A company to keep an eye on. 

genovelle

dk49 said:

I always wonder how these types of departures turn out for the previous company? That Apple employee knows a ton about the Apple Car. And while I am sure he must have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Apple when he joined, he could always unofficially talk about it to its new employer. In fact, I have a strong feeling that the startup hired him not just because of his experience and skills, but also about what he knows about the project. You could always say that Apple must have filed parents to protect its IP, but then everything is not about patents. Ideas are equally important. Even if he tells the new employer what Apple is planning to do exactly, that could be a a real gem of information for that startup, since they could start building a similar stuff in their car. Thus impacting the uniqueness of Apple Car.

This one is not a problem. He is going to a company developing technology for commercial satellite deployment in space. 

sirlance99

dk49 said:

I always wonder how these types of departures turn out for the previous company? That Apple employee knows a ton about the Apple Car. And while I am sure he must have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Apple when he joined, he could always unofficially talk about it to its new employer. In fact, I have a strong feeling that the startup hired him not just because of his experience and skills, but also about what he knows about the project. You could always say that Apple must have filed parents to protect its IP, but then everything is not about patents. Ideas are equally important. Even if he tells the new employer what Apple is planning to do exactly, that could be a a real gem of information for that startup, since they could start building a similar stuff in their car. Thus impacting the uniqueness of Apple Car.

Ok, now turn that around to Apple when they hire people on from other companies. Will you still say the same thing?

13485

sirlance99 said:

dk49 said:

I always wonder how these types of departures turn out for the previous company? That Apple employee knows a ton about the Apple Car. And while I am sure he must have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Apple when he joined, he could always unofficially talk about it to its new employer. In fact, I have a strong feeling that the startup hired him not just because of his experience and skills, but also about what he knows about the project. You could always say that Apple must have filed parents to protect its IP, but then everything is not about patents. Ideas are equally important. Even if he tells the new employer what Apple is planning to do exactly, that could be a a real gem of information for that startup, since they could start building a similar stuff in their car. Thus impacting the uniqueness of Apple Car.

Ok, now turn that around to Apple when they hire people on from other companies. Will you still say the same thing?

Yes, if it applies to proprietary information from the previous company. Companies are quite sensitive about this since the likelihood of being sued is usually not worth it.