Apple nabs key Lamborghini executive to supercharge its self-driving electric car project after years of setbacks

Apple has hired Luigi Taraborrelli, a 20-year veteran of the Italian carmaker, in another sign the iPhone maker remains committed to producing a car

Apple has brought in several industry veterans for its car project, including hires from Tesla and BMW, and engineers from Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Waymo

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Published: 12:51pm, 28 Jul 2022Updated: 1:35pm, 28 Jul 2022

Apple has enlisted one of Lamborghini’s top car-development managers in a sign that it’s stepping up work on a self-driving electric vehicle, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

The company hired Luigi Taraborrelli, a 20-year veteran of the Italian carmaker, to help lead the design of Apple’s future vehicle, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter isn’t public. Taraborrelli was most recently Lamborghini’s head of chassis and vehicle dynamics.

The move is another signal that Apple is committed to producing a car following years of setbacks and upheaval. With his experience, Taraborrelli becomes one of the most senior managers on Apple’s EV team and brings some exotic-car panache to the effort.

The executive worked on Lamborghini models such as the Urus, Huracan and Aventador, in addition to more limited models like the Huracan Sterrato off-road vehicle and Asterion concept car. He oversaw Lamborghini’s chassis development, as well as areas such as handling, suspensions, steering, brakes and rims, according to his LinkedIn profile.

An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on the hire.

Earlier this year, Apple tapped a 31-year veteran of Ford Motor Co to lead its vehicle-safety efforts. Last year, it hired Ulrich Kranz, the former chief of struggling electric-car maker Canoo and former leader of BMW’s electric-car business. Before that, Apple enlisted former Tesla Autopilot chief Stuart Bowers to work on self-driving technology.

The Apple project includes hundreds of former engineers from Tesla and other car companies, including Rivian Automotive Inc, Alphabet’s Waymo, Volvo Car and Mercedes-Benz Group. It also has former senior design executives on staff from Tesla, McLaren, Porsche and Aston Martin.