Apple Adds Former Senior Executive from BMW as Part of its Electric Car Endeavors

Wall Street learned this week that tech giant Apple has hired a BMW veteran in its electric car push.

The iPhone maker has hired Ulrich Kranz, a former senior executive at BMW who is focused on autonomous vehicles.

Bloomberg was the first to report on the hiring and CNBC’s Phil LeBeau also confirmed Kranz being added to Apple’s team.

Though Apple has never given confirmation that it is building a car, the company has been hiring talent from the automotive industry and has even tested self-driving software in California.

In 2018, Apple had also hired Doug Field from Tesla, who worked on Tesla’s Model 3.

Apple did not elaborate on whether Kranz will work on the company’s car project, dubbed Special Projects Group or SPG.

Prior to joining Apple, Kranz was a co-founder of Canoo, which is working on a self-driving electric car. Kranz had previously led BMW’s electric car development program, which resulted in the electric i3 vehicle and a hybrid sports car called the i8, according to Bloomberg.

Apple held talks with Canoo’s EV platform in early 2020, as The Verge reported earlier this year. But taks between the two companies eventually broke down, though, as Canoo preferred to take an investment, while Apple was interested in an acquisition.

It is not exactly clear when an “Apple Car” might debut, but reports have indicated that it could take at least five to seven years to ship.

Disclaimer: We have no position in any of the companies mentioned and have not been compensated for this article.