An Apple's executive in charge of its electric car project is reportedly leaving the company for personal reasons. The code-named Project Titan was launched to develop the "Apple car." Last year the company met with California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) about the rules of the road for self-driving cars, and was in talks with a Bay Area testing facility about road tests for driverless vehicles.
The Wall Street Journal noted that Steve Zedesky is not leaving due to his job performance. In addition, his last day working at the tech giant has not been set.
Zadesky is a former Ford engineer and has headed Project Titan for a couple of years. WSJ reports that Zedesky is leaving the Apple automotive team for personal reasons, which a source familiar with the issue has confirmed.
Project Titan's chief has been an Apple employee for almost 17 years. Zedesky's LinkedIn profile shares that he helped to develop the first iPod and original iPhone, and hundreds of Apple accessories.
The Steve Jobs co-founded company has not confirmed that it is working on an electric/self-driving car. This is despite the company's hiring of executives with work experience in the auto industry and electric batteries, according to Re/code.
Kelly Blue Book's analyst Akshay Anand shared that Zedesky's leaving might seem like a big loss, but the company has enough money to hire nearly anyone to replace him.
Anand believes Apple's Project Titan will keep moving forward. It would also prove the company is in fact trying to become a player in the auto industry.
Apple CEO Tim Cook shared at a WSJ event last fall that the automotive industry is close to a "massive change." However, he did not state if his company would be part of that metamorphosis, according to The Verge.
A few weeks ago Apple released a list of automakers that are using its CarPlay iOS infotainment interface. It includes major brands including Chrysler, Ford, and Volkswagen. The company has also launched a website to track which car companies and models support CarPlay.
Apple's 2015-launched CarPlay allows people to plug an iPhone device into the vehicle. It then uses the vehicle's central display to control entertainment and communication features.