Ford hires the longtime Tesla executive who led Apple's secretive electric car project

Ford has hired a veteran Apple and Tesla executive.
Doug Field will assist in the development of parts of Ford's new software products, and connected car services.

Field managed Apple's secretive electric car program and was responsible for the development of Tesla Model 3.

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On Tuesday, Ford announced that Doug Field, an Apple and Tesla executive, had been appointed chief technology officer and embedded systems officer.

Field was most recently vice president of special project at Apple. He oversaw the secretive Project Titan electric car program. Field was a senior vice president of engineering at Tesla from 2013 to 2018.

Before leaving Tesla in 2018, he was responsible for the creation of the Tesla Model 3. Field worked for five years in engineering and design before joining Tesla.

Field will be responsible for Ford's development and marketing of Blue Oval Intelligence (a new range software services that are available to consumers and businesses). This includes driver-assistance technology, wireless vehicle updates, and infotainment software.

Apple's electric car project, which was launched in 2014, could face a setback. According to Reuters, the tech giant plans to begin production of an Apple-branded self-driving EV in 2024.

Apple is said to have met with a few potential partners in manufacturing, including South Korea's Hyundai but has not yet announced any concrete plans.