According to the Journal, Apple CEO Tim Cook approved the project about a year ago, putting product design Vice President Steve Zadesky in charge. A former Ford engineer, Zadesky has been a long time Apple employee who helped create the iPod and later the iPhone.
Zadesky is said to have created a team strong of 1,000 people, which tends to prove that Apple is serious about the project, rather than considering this electric car a hobby.
But of course, until we get an official confirmation from Apple, project Titan remains just this: a project that may or may not see the light of day. Besides, the technology developed for the project could very well be used for other products (think batteries, a technology in real need of a breakthrough). Either way, if Apple decided to go ahead with Project Titan, it would probably take years for an actual car to go into production.
In addition to building a car, there is money to be made from the software operating system for a self-driving vehicle, as well as the services associated with autonomous driving, such as high-definition mapping, car-sharing and electric car recharging services, the auto industry source said.
“It’s a software game. It’s all about autonomous driving,†the source said.
The Cupertino based company has already hired Johann Jungwirth, President & CEO, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America in September last year. The company has already put together a team of nearly 1000 employees from its iPhone division to research and work on automotive products who are working from a secret location in California. It is also looking to hire experts in automotive technology and vehicle design.
[Source]
