Apple has employed Ulrich Kranz, a former senior government at BMW who targeted on electrical automobiles, Apple confirmed to CNBC’s Phil LeBeau on Thursday.

The rent is the most recent signal that Apple is severe about constructing an electrical automobile to compete with automakers similar to Tesla.

Hyundai mentioned earlier this yr it was in talks with Apple to fabricate its automobile earlier than strolling its feedback again and confirming it was no longer in discussions. Apple’s automobile mission has been restructured a number of occasions, most recently in early 2019.

Apple has by no means confirmed it’s constructing a automobile however has employed expertise from the automotive business and examined self-driving software program in California. In 2018, Apple hired Doug Field from Tesla, who labored on Tesla’s Mannequin 3. With its experience in provide chains, battery know-how, and person expertise, Apple would signify a serious competitor to present automakers if it ever releases a automobile.

Apple didn’t say whether or not Kranz will work on Apple’s automobile mission, which is named Particular Initiatives Group or SPG. However Kranz has in depth expertise constructing groups targeted on electrical automobiles.

Earlier than becoming a member of Apple, Kranz was a co-founder of Canoo, which is engaged on a self-driving electrical automobile. At BMW, he led the corporate’s electrical automobile growth program, which resulted within the electrical i3 car and a hybrid sports activities automobile known as the i8, in accordance with Bloomberg, which first reported the hire.