Apple's Rumored CEO Could Have Some Automotive Experience
Apparently, Apple's rumored CEO has a lot of experience in the automotive industry. He spent 30 years with BMW, and it appears that his engineering talent is something that Apple could very well use. In fact, he could even be the key to brokering a deal between Apple and BMW.
Ulrich Kranz spent 30 years at BMW
Previously, Kranz was the head of development for BMW's i series. He helped develop the sporty electric BMW i3 and the plug-in hybrid i8 cars. He also worked on BMW's Minis.
Kranz co-founded electric car startup Canoo in 2017, and left BMW in April of that year. The company went public in December of that year, and a federal investigation has been filed against it in recent months. The company has since reversed the merger with Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp.
After Canoo went public, Kranz stepped down as CEO. He was removed from the company's board of directors. The company has since discussed selling itself to other companies.
Kranz was also the chief technology officer of Faraday Future. The company briefly hired him in 2017, and he stayed with the company for three months. He was then named chief technology officer, but the company subsequently ran into financial trouble.
The hiring of Kranz shows that Apple is stepping up its plans to build an electric car. The company plans to release a self-driving model by 2024. It will be manufactured by LG Electronics, which will build the first examples of the car as a pilot project.
Ulrich Kranz could be key to brokering a deal with Apple
Among Apple's many vehicle initiatives, the hiring of former BMW executive Ulrich Kranz may have been the company's most high-profile move. Kranz spent over three decades with the German automaker and helped lead its development of the i3 and i8 electric cars. He also served as the group's senior vice president, responsible for the company's electrification program.
The company's aspirations to produce its own automobile have been a rumor for some time, but the hiring of Kranz may finally be a sign that Apple is moving forward with the vehicle manufacturing plans that CEO Tim Cook has been hinting at for the past few years. Apple recently refocused its efforts on self-driving technology, as Reuters reported.
The company's car project has been dubbed Project Titan, and it's a long way from being a concept car to a fully functional vehicle. The company's chief AI executive, John Giannandrea, has reportedly held meetings with Chinese battery suppliers like CATL to discuss the company's next-generation battery tech, and Apple has been in talks with a number of automakers to find a partner for its upcoming electric vehicle.
Ulrich Kranz's engineering talent could be a prime asset for Apple's automotive ambitions
Having hired Ulrich Kranz, a former BMW executive who led the company's electric car business, Apple now has a top-notch engineer on board to help with its vehicle initiatives. The move marks the latest of several high-profile hires this year.
Kranz is part of Apple's car team, which is referred to as Project Titan. Apple has a lot of lofty goals for this project, namely the creation of an autonomous car that could be sold in the near future.
Kranz, along with other senior executives, is helping to lead Apple's vehicle efforts. He is joined by other notable names, including former McLaren design executives, former Tesla executives and former auto engineers from rival car companies.
Apple's self-driving car project has seen a lot of turnover, especially in the past few years. Last year, Doug Field left to join Ford. He returned to Apple in 2018.
Kranz is not the first high-tech auto talent Apple has hired in recent months. The company also recently announced the hiring of Desi Ujkashevic, a 31-year Ford veteran who has been named the company's chief car engineer.
Ulrich Kranz will report to Doug Field
Earlier this year, Apple hired Ulrich Kranz, a former senior executive at BMW AG's electric car division, to work on its car project. The hiring is a big step forward in the company's long-rumored plans to build a physical vehicle.
Kranz is a 30-year BMW veteran who previously headed BMW's i3 and i8 electric vehicle development programs. He will now report to Apple Car Chief Doug Field, and is one of the company's most important automotive hires to date.
Apple's car project was previously known as "Project Titan." It's an ambitious initiative to develop autonomous vehicle technology. The company hopes to launch a self-driving electric car by 2024.
The company has been developing a car project since 2014. Its goal is to build a vehicle that can drive itself. It has hired automotive talent, including former Tesla and Kia executives, and has held talks with battery giants. It's reportedly planning to begin building prototypes with LG Electronics. The company has also been testing self-driving software in California.
