Apple Bike, anyone? According to a new report, Apple’s continued recruitment of auto experts has resulted in the closure of an electric motorcycle startup.
Called Mission Motors, the company had drawn comparisons with Tesla — only to shut down back in May after Apple raided some of its top engineers.
At least two Mission employees joined Apple in 2012, while over the past year another dozen are reported to have started work with the company.
These join the dozens of other people Apple has hired from automakers such as Mercedes-Benz and Ford to work on the rumored Apple car project. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently described Apple as a “graveyard” for former Tesla engineers.
“Mission had a great group of engineers, specifically electric drive expertise,” said Derek Kaufman, Mission Motors‘ chief executive. “Apple knew that — they wanted it, and they went and got it.”
Apple’s recruits are reported to specialize in hardware and software for electric drives systems. This includes algorithms for battery cooling and charging.
Key hires are said to include Mission’s VP of electrical engineering Nancy Sun; Mark Sherwood, director of power train systems engineering; and Eyal Cohen, VP of software and electrical engineering. Of these, only Cohen’s LinkedIn profile reflects the fact that he is now working at Apple. Nancy Sun previously worked for Apple before joining Mission Motors.
The loss of key talent resulted in Mission Motors losing out on all-important funding.
Earlier this year, Apple settled with an electric car battery maker, A123 Systems, after Cupertino’s hiring of several top A123 engineers cost the company money and forced them to abandon projects.
Source: Reuters
