Apple Strengthens Self-Driving Car Team With Ex-Tesla Engineer
Key Takeaways
- Apple has hired Christopher “CJ” Moore, a former Tesla engineer who worked on Autopilot, to join its self-driving car team
- Moore previously publicly questioned Elon Musk’s claims about Tesla achieving Level 5 autonomy
- Apple’s self-driving car project, known as Project Titan, has recruited several former Tesla engineers and acquired autonomous technology startups
- Production of the Apple Car is rumored to begin as early as 2024, though delays could push it to 2027
- The rumored Apple Car is expected to target enterprise and business customers initially
Apple Adds Ex-Tesla Engineer to Advance Self-Driving Car Ambitions
Apple continues to build out its team for the long-rumored Apple Car, with recent reports indicating that the company has brought on Christopher “CJ” Moore, a former Tesla engineer who contributed to the development of Tesla’s Autopilot system. Moore’s hiring was first reported by Bloomberg on Friday.
Moore gained attention earlier this year after he publicly questioned Elon Musk’s assertion that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology would soon achieve Level 5 autonomy, the highest level of full driverless capability. During a meeting with California’s Autonomous Vehicles Branch, Moore stated that Musk’s claim did not align with engineering reality, a remark that is widely believed to have played a role in his departure from Tesla.
At Apple, Moore will rejoin Stuart Bowers, another ex-Tesla engineer who moved to Apple last year. The pair will focus on developing Apple’s self-driving software as part of the company’s Project Titan initiative. Apple has been aggressive in recruiting talent from Tesla and other autonomous vehicle firms. Other notable ex-Tesla hires include Micheal Schwekutsch, Steve MacManus, and Doug Field, who previously led Project Titan from 2018 until he left to join Ford Moto Company in 2021. Field has since been replaced by Kevin Lynch.
In addition to high-profile hires, Apple has invested in several autonomous technology startups. One of the most significant acquisitions was Drive.ai, a self-driving car startup founded in 2015. Apple has also seen departures from its project, including Dave Scott, Head of Robotics, and Jaime Waydo, Chief of Safety.
Rumors persist that Apple could begin production of its self-driving car as early as 2024, although delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and complex manufacturing and design challenges could push the launch to as late as 2027. The rumored Apple Car is expected to initially target enterprise and business customers rather than consumer markets.
