Lucid Motors has appointed a former Apple Inc. government, Derrick Carty, as vice chairman of platform software program engineering amid a gradual rollout of key software program options on the EV startup’s Air sedan.
Carty’s tasks on the newly created submit embrace superior driving help programs, audio, embedded software program, and programs structure, Lucid mentioned a information launch.
“Carty brings many years of worldwide expertise in software program improvement and consumer interface experience to Lucid, together with 23 years with Apple, and most lately as a advisor for Lucid’s infotainment software program group,” the automaker mentioned.
Carty will report back to Michael Bell, Lucid’s senior vice chairman of digital.
Based on his LinkedIn profile, Carty joined Lucid in June and beforehand labored at his consulting agency, Carty Consulting. Previous to that, he held posts as director and senior director at Apple.
“Derrick’s wealth of expertise with programs structure and his capacity to guide groups that create customer-friendly, easy-to-use software program interfaces is essential as we proceed to roll out new Lucid Air options through our over-the-air software program updates,” Bell mentioned within the launch.
Carty holds a bachelor’s diploma from Stanford College in laptop science, Lucid mentioned.
Lucid’s Air sedan, which launched final 12 months from the automaker’s new manufacturing unit in Arizona, has acquired sturdy reward from auto reviewers for its energy, consolation, dealing with, vary and effectivity.
Nonetheless, there even have been complaints from reviewers and early consumers in regards to the six-figure sedan’s in-house software program as being gradual, glitchy and incomplete.
“Lucid appears to have whiffed it on the subject of the Air’s in-car tech and driver aids,” Edmunds mentioned in a evaluation on its web site. “Our take a look at automobile was stricken by persistent Bluetooth connection errors on each iPhone and Android units.”
Edmunds additionally famous Lucid’s delays incorporating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto software program, which mirror smartphone functions like music, navigation and podcasts onto a car’s infotainment display.
Lucid, which has been commonly updating its car software program via its over-the-air functionality, has mentioned CarPlay and Android Auto will probably be coming this 12 months together with different enhancements.