Apple hires ex-Chrysler quality chief, triggers more Apple Car speculation

Apple recently hired a high-ranking official from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), triggering renewed speculation about the tech giant's rumored electric-car project.

Doug Betts is the former head of global quality, but now works for Apple, according to his LinkedIn profile. He is an expert in automotive manufacturing, according to Automotive News. The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, which noted that it is unclear whether Betts will work on anything car-related, or on an existing product line instead.

Betts' LinkedIn profile shows that he joined Apple this month, but only says that he is involved in "operations." He spent about 35 years in the auto industry, working for Nissan and Toyota before coming to Chrysler.

Earlier this year, Apple also hired Paul Furgale, a Swiss autonomous-vehicle researcher. Frugal previously led the Autonomous Systems Lab at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), as well as a European Commission project to develop self-parking vehicles. He is reportedly recruiting students and researchers to work with him at Apple.

A trail of hirings is the most visible evidence of Apple's mysterious car research, known as "Project Titan." Earlier this year, battery maker A123 Systems filed a suit against Apple, accusing the Silicon Valley company of poaching key employees. A123 previously supplied batteries to Fisker Automotive, and makes electric-car batteries for the Chinese market.

Of course, Apple hasn't confirmed any plans to build an electric car publicly, or even hinted officially at any interest in the car business. That hasn't stopped legions of analysts and tech fans from dreaming about the possibilities, though.

With no confirmation from Apple that "Project Titan" is a go, it's hard to say exactly what an Apple Car would be like, how it would be different from the scores of other models already available, and whether people will actually want it if an when it actually appears.

Source: Apple hires ex-Chrysler quality chief, triggers more Apple Car speculation