Apple Car Team Poaches Longtime EV Executive from Ford in Talent Swap

With gas prices climbing to astronomic levels, car manufacturers increasingly focus their efforts on electric vehicles. This new-found initiative includes not only the big car makers like Volkswagen and Mercedes, but it also encompasses Apple.

According to Bloomberg, Apple is accelerating its electric car project with an experienced new hire that it poached from Ford.

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According to people with inside knowledge, Apple has recruited longtime Ford EV executive Desi Ujkashevic for its electric car development.

Ujkashevic joined Ford in 1991 and most recently was the global director of automotive safety engineering. Her current and previous duties at Ford involved designing and engineering car interiors, exteriors, chassis, electrical components, and safety measures.

Ujkashevic has developed electric vehicles for Ford, making her an ideal candidate to work on Apple’s Car project. She also has experience with the regulatory process, a skill set that will help Apple navigate the red tape necessary for government approval of its self-driving EV.

Apple has neither confirmed nor denied hiring Ujkashevic. Ford, however, has confirmed to Bloomberg that the executive has retired from the company. Ujkashevic’s hire could signal that Apple is jumpstarting the work on its electric vehicle.

Talent Swap

The project has struggled with the turnover of key team members over the past year. Nearly the entire original management team that founded the Apple Car project has left, including lead executive Doug Field. In an interesting twist, Field departed Apple for Ford, joining the automaker as the Chief Officer for EVs and Digital Systems.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]