According to Bloomberg, Apple might have hired Desi Ujkashevic for the car project, as she worked for Ford since 1991 and most recently was in charge as its global director of automotive safety engineering.
Her previous experience at the American carmaker consists of overseeing the design process for the interiors, exteriors, chassis and electrical components of many Ford models, but also Lincoln ones, which is the luxury sub-brand of Ford.
Another key advantage Ujkashevic could bring for Apple is her regulatory knowledge, which is going to be very important for the Cupertino company, as this is going to be its first released vehicle.
While Apple refused to comment on the matter, Ford announced that Ujkashevic retired from the company.
The new potential hire comes as last year marked some departures from the Apple car project, including the replacement of nearly the entire management team, led by Doug Field, who left the company last year to join Ford.
Apple has been looking forward to building an electric, self-driving car for the past seven years now, but the project saw numerous strategy shifts and personnel changes.
Since the departure of Doug Field, the California-based company appointed Apple Watch and health software head Kevin Lynch to oversee the project, and while Lynch doesn't have experience in the development of vehicles, he is a well-regarded software engineering manager.
Apple has been looking forward to accelerate the development of the Apple car since Lynch was put in charge of the project, with the goal to announce a product by 2025.
An Apple car would make the company a competitor of Tesla and Lucid Group, as well as traditional carmakers that focus on the launch of EVs.
Ford has been one of the companies looking forward to the development of electric cars, with the company focusing on electrifying the best-selling car in America, the Ford F-150 pick-up truck.
The Cupertino company hopes to develop a fully autonomous vehicle, with safety systems that are going to be better than those offered by Tesla and Waymo, formerly known as the Google Car project.
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