Apple Car Test Drive: iPhone-Maker Shifts To Automotive Technology

After huge success in the smartphone business, Cupertino, California-based Apple Inc. is reportedly going to make an electric car. The tech firm is now diversifying into new markets after the saturation of its smartphones and computing devices. Recent reports suggest an Apple car test drive is already in the planning phase.

Reuters reported that Apple Inc. has hired an industry expert to its secret Apple car development and test drive team. His name is Jamie Carlson and his expertise is in autonomous technologies. He was a senior engineer at Tesla. 

Carlson's LinkedIn profile said his role at Elon Musk's Tesla included  management of the successful car company's autopilot software. He also worked at Gentex and he is credited with testing software involved in "next generation automotive vision system," Yahoo reported.

Apple Inc. has made some "new buys" in its talent pool and Carlson is definitely one of them, say analysts.

Apple car's test drive plans are in full swing with new hires made since January. The tech firm hand-picked an ex-Volkswagen AG engineer Megan McClain, who has a background in automated driving. Vinay Palakkode's skills lie in automated driving research and he is now on Apple's payroll. Palakkode is a graduate researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, which is considered to be a hub of automation development.

Apple also hired Xianqiao Tong, who worked at  microchip maker Nvidia Corp. He is an engineer who worked on computer vision software and driver assistance systems.
Paul Furgale, is another Apple front man and expert in autonomous vehicle research who has formed a team of "robotics and machine vision experts to work on a confidential project."

Yahoo reported that the iPhone-maker appears to have big plans for its Apple car test drive and development. Experts say that Apple will face practical, economic and logistical challenges during its manufacturing of its first car. At the same time, the Apple car will also include more research and testing than its previous iconic research initiatives like the iPhone. 

"Apple has shifted so much staff towards its auto division that senior managers in other divisions are complaining about the loss of talent from their teams," The Register reported.