Apple has been making efforts to enter the growing EV space, targeting to bring out a passenger vehicle enabled with self-driving technology by 2024
Apple Inc’s venture into electric mobility seems to be taking flight as it brings in a former senior executive at BMW AG’s electric car division, Ulrich Kranz, to help with its planned vehicle initiatives.
Prior to joining the tech giant, Kranz served as the chief executive officer of autonomous EV startup Canoo Inc, of which he is a co-founder. Kranz has extensive experience in the automotive industry, having been a part of BMW for 30 years. He was also the senior vice president of the group that developed the BMW’s i3 and i8 cars.
At Apple, Kranz will report to Doug Field, who led the development of Tesla’s mass-market Model 3 and now runs Apple’s car project, a Bloomberg report said while citing sources.
According to Bloomberg, Kranz is one of Apple’s most significant automotive hires, a clear sign that it is determined to build a self-driving electric car to rival Tesla Inc and other carmakers.
Apple has been making efforts to enter the growing EV space, targeting to bring out a passenger vehicle enabled with self-driving technology by 2024.
It has also been reported that the company is planning to include its own battery technology in the vehicle. Apple has also been in talks with battery makers CATL, BYD for the same.
