'Scores' of Employees Have Left Tesla for Apple Over the Last Year

[MacRumors]

Dozens of Tesla employees have left Tesla for Apple since late 2017, according to research conducted by CNBC.

The Tesla employees that have left Tesla have joined multiple departments at Apple, with the hires not limited to Project Titan, Apple's car development effort.

In 2018 so far, LinkedIn data shows Apple has hired at least 46 people who worked at Tesla directly before joining the consumer electronics juggernaut. Eight of these were engineering interns. This year Apple has also hired former Tesla Autopilot, QA, Powertrain, mechanical design and firmware engineers, and several global supply chain managers. Some employees joined directly from Tesla, while others had been dismissed or laid off before joining Apple.

A Tesla engineer who has kept in touch with his Apple colleagues spoke to CNBC and said that based on what he's been told, Apple appears to be taking steps to "more tightly control manufacturing processes and equipment used to make products."

A number of Tesla employees who have switched over to Apple have not yet updated their LinkedIn profiles with their new job descriptions, including notable hire Doug Field.

Field, who previously served as Apple's VP of Mac hardware engineering, rejoined the company after spending five years at Tesla overseeing the production of the Model 3. Field's hiring, along with rumors from noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, have led to speculation that Apple is once again developing a full Apple-branded self-driving vehicle rather than focusing solely on autonomous software.

Tesla employees told CNBC that Field's departure from the company led to a dip in morale among engineers and technicians at Tesla. Even before Field left, however, more people were leaving Tesla for other companies like Apple.

According to Tesla, voluntary attrition has decreased by one-third over the last 12 months, with the company also claiming that it has added talent from Apple and other companies. From a Tesla spokesperson:

"We wish them well. Tesla is the hard path. We have 100 times less money than Apple, so of course they can afford to pay more. We are in extremely difficult battles against entrenched auto companies that make 100 times more cars than we did last year, so of course this is very hard work. We don't even have money for advertising or endorsements or discounts, so must survive on the quality of our products alone. Nonetheless, we believe in our mission and that it is worth the sacrifice of time and the never ending barrage of negativity by those who wish us ill. So it goes. The world must move to sustainable energy and it must do so now."

Apple's "leadership, competitive pay, and products" are among the driving factors that have encouraged employees to leave Tesla for Apple. Multiple sources told CNBC that Apple pays about one-and-a-half times the salary for technicians, software, and manufacturing engineers compared to Tesla.

Other employees have cited Apple stock and the volatility of Tesla CEO Elon Musk as factors for leaving.

Article Link: 'Scores' of Employees Have Left Tesla for Apple Over the Last Year

 

[KPandian1]

It has to do with job-security and a wish to live, not Apple Car.

None of them want to go to Mars!

 

[Blackstick]

It has to do with job security I’m sure.

 

[nutmac]

I am certain many would disagree, and for good reasons, but I think if Apple would acquire Tesla, which probably would require about $70B worth of cash and/or stock swap, many problems would be solved.

Tesla and Elon would no longer need to seek funding and talk to investors directly. And gain access to Tim Cook's supply chain and manufacturing leverage power and experience.

For Apple, Apple will be able to fold its Project Titan and CarPlay projects into Tesla and immediately gain access to charging stations and battery technologies.

Of course, the merger assumes Elon would be content running only the product and engineering side of businesses. Steve Jobs apparently did, but I am not sure Elon would be "fine" being under Tim Cook's leadership.

 

[iFan]

I've heard from employees within Apple that the number is much higher than a few dozen, however I am still LONG both AAPL and TSLA. One data point of many.

 

[blacktape242]

did it take into account that tesla let go of 9% of their work force.

 

[Rogifan]

I am certain many would disagree, and for good reasons, but I think if Apple would acquire Tesla, which probably would require about $70B worth of cash and/or stock swap, many problems would be solved.

Tesla and Elon would no longer need to seek funding and talk to investors directly. And gain access to Tim Cook's supply chain and manufacturing leverage power and experience.

For Apple, Apple will be able to fold its Project Titan and CarPlay projects into Tesla and immediately gain access to charging stations and battery technologies.

Of course, the merger assumes Elon would be content running only the product and engineering side of businesses. Steve Jobs apparently did, but I am not sure Elon would be "fine" being under Tim Cook's leadership.

Never going to happen. Elon Musk is looney tunes. I wouldn’t want him anywhere near Apple.

 

[69Mustang]

I am certain many would disagree, and for good reasons, but I think if Apple would acquire Tesla, which probably would require about $70B worth of cash and/or stock swap, many problems would be solved.

Tesla and Elon would no longer need to seek funding and talk to investors directly. And gain access to Tim Cook's supply chain and manufacturing leverage power and experience.

For Apple, Apple will be able to fold its Project Titan and CarPlay projects into Tesla and immediately gain access to charging stations and battery technologies.

Of course, the merger assumes Elon would be content running only the product and engineering side of businesses. Steve Jobs apparently did, but I am not sure Elon would be "fine" being under Tim Cook's leadership.

Who would want that? Nobody I hope. For all his eccentricities, Musk is better off marching to the beat of his own drum. I don't even like Musk nor Tesla for that matter. I do admire his drive and ambition. It doesn't need to be subsumed into the Borg collective that is Apple. Plus there's Space X.

"Apple should just acquire..." is a phrase that should be retired imo. Post really isn't directed at you. It's more about that idea of Apple acquiring something is a good idea.

 

[mtneer]

Not everyone has a trust fund or can forever stay 22, eating pizza and drinking beer while slouched on a cheeto dusted couch. People grow up, have families and responsibilities. The Bay Area is expensive and people got rents to pay.

 

[trifid]

And yet Apple Maps and Siri are almost unusable. Ironically both of them are integral to autonomous driving. And they almost a decade old.

Sorry I’m not inspired with confidence with this story.

 

[djcerla]

And yet Apple Maps and Siri are almost unusable

I used Maps for a 4000km road trip in France and Spain. They have been flawless.

Siri, like all other digital assistants, is in its infancy.

 

[hllywluis]

The Tesla employees that have left Apple have joined multiple departments, with the hires not limited to Project Titan, Apple's car development effort.

Shouldn’t this be: “The Apple employees that have left Tesla...?” And also this seems like a win for them, although I hope Tesla’s software quality doesn’t suffer because of this, as I’ve really wanted to buy a Tesla Model 3 for the longest time..

 

[SteveW928]

"Nonetheless, we believe in our mission and that it is worth the sacrifice of time and the never ending barrage of negativity by those who wish us ill. So it goes. The world must move to sustainable energy and it must do so now."

Queue the little violin.... maybe they are sick of these kind of excuses and behavior if they are expected to work hard and make less $ to support Elon's fantasies.

As an aside, if Apple does make an electric car, I sure hope it is just a top-notch, great electric car (w/o all the self-driving baloney). Then it won't matter how good their maps are or aren't. And, if Apple can't even do basic search technology, I sure don't want them to have ANY involvement in the control of some vehicle I'm in!

 

[nutmac]

Who would want that? Nobody I hope. For all his eccentricities, Musk is better off marching to the beat of his own drum. I don't even like Musk nor Tesla for that matter. I do admire his drive and ambition. It doesn't need to be subsumed into the Borg collective that is Apple. Plus there's Space X.

"Apple should just acquire..." is a phrase that should be retired imo. Post really isn't directed at you. It's more about that idea of Apple acquiring something is a good idea.

I've already stated that Elon probably wouldn't be content working under Tim Cook. But IF he's truly sick of supply chain and manufacturing logistics, not to mention investors and funding woes, he might accept the trade offs. And Tim Cook might offer Elon autonomy over Tesla, a similar privilege extended only to Jony Ive.

 

[KPandian1]

Jokes aside, Tesla fired a huge number of workers from the assembly line earlier this year. Nothing see there.

Now, a few upper management/design folks leave for a better company, it is a conspiracy by Apple!

Didn't these type of workers sue to move between companies, ending the conspiracy between the big 6-12 companies to not "poach" each others kitty?

 

[robbyx]

I've already stated that Elon probably wouldn't be content working under Tim Cook. But IF he's truly sick of supply chain and manufacturing logistics, not to mention investors and funding woes, he might accept the trade offs. And Tim Cook might offer Elon autonomy over Tesla, a similar privilege extended only to Jony Ive.

You’re assuming that Musk wants to stay. He might be very happy for Apple to acquire Tesla, exit on a high note, and put all of his attention into his true love, SpaceX.

 

[Dougie Jones]

I am certain many would disagree, and for good reasons, but I think if Apple would acquire Tesla, which probably would require about $70B worth of cash and/or stock swap, many problems would be solved.

Tesla and Elon would no longer need to seek funding and talk to investors directly. And gain access to Tim Cook's supply chain and manufacturing leverage power and experience.

For Apple, Apple will be able to fold its Project Titan and CarPlay projects into Tesla and immediately gain access to charging stations and battery technologies.

Of course, the merger assumes Elon would be content running only the product and engineering side of businesses. Steve Jobs apparently did, but I am not sure Elon would be "fine" being under Tim Cook's leadership.

Couldn't agree more. Plus, Elon would have more time to run SpaceX

 

[SteveW928]

You’re assuming that Musk wants to stay. He might be very happy for Apple to acquire Tesla, exit on a high note, and put all of his attention into his true love, SpaceX.

Well, and Apple actually has the money to solve Tesla's financial woes, play the long-term game, etc. But, it doesn't seem like the type of thing they'd typically do. Apple is so untypical in the last 5-10 years, though, that I just really have little clue what they would or wouldn't do anymore.

 

[Dougie Jones]

Never going to happen. Elon Musk is looney tunes. I wouldn’t want him anywhere near Apple.

Why not? We can have iPhones assembled in tents then

 

[ob81]

I like Tesla and want to own one someday. I think they have an Elon Musk problem. The man works too hard. They need to work on perfecting a small lineup and then gradually grow from there. Model 3 should have been first. Also, they need to concentrate on their tech. Sit any mid-level and up 2017/2018 model car up against Tesla. The only difference will be how the tech is actually displayed, and the Tesla won’t have some of the Tech like blind spot monitoring easily accessible. Rear object sensor? Nope.

 

[doelcm82]

As an aside, if Apple does make an electric car, I sure hope it is just a top-notch, great electric car (w/o all the self-driving baloney). Then it won't matter how good their maps are or aren't. And, if Apple can't even do basic search technology, I sure don't want them to have ANY involvement in the control of some vehicle I'm in!

No offense, but that’s a little like hoping the next iPhone has just a number pad and a screen to tell you who’s calling, without all the internet, camera, and media consumption nonsense.

 

[robbyx]

Well, and Apple actually has the money to solve Tesla's financial woes, play the long-term game, etc. But, it doesn't seem like the type of thing they'd typically do. Apple is so untypical in the last 5-10 years, though, that I just really have little clue what they would or wouldn't do anymore.

It’s interesting to be how people see the return of Jobs years as “typical” Apple when, in fact, the opposite is true. Look at Apple before Jobs returned. There were lots of “untypical” things going on. Can you say clones?!

Anyway...I think buying Tesla makes a lot of sense for Apple. I’m not sure now is the time, but I think Apple will face serious challenges breaking into the automobile industry. Tesla gives them a great, and probably very compatible, short cut.

 

[SteveW928]

No offense, but that’s a little like hoping the next iPhone has just a number pad and a screen to tell you who’s calling, without all the internet, camera, and media consumption nonsense.

I think you're making the assumption that self-driving is some kind of advantage or new forward-thinking feature. For those of us who like to drive, it's a sci-fi nightmare. For the rest, it is just sci-fi.

 

[luvbug]

It would be very inefficient, in my view, for Apple to buy Tesla. Tesla isn't Ford or BWM, who have been manufacturing cars for many decades. Tesla themselves are still working out the whole "making a physical car" thing. Yes, Tesla has done a heap of design, engineering, and testing, including software, but how much of that effort would translate to Apple's vision of its car? How much effort would it take to just figure out what Tesla has, design/engineering-wise, that Apple would want to keep, and then integrate it with what Apple has already done? I think Apple would be better off approaching the car the way they do mobile processors, i.e. do everything in-house but make it, then contract with a leading manufacturing partner for the physical product. I realize there's no TSMC equivalent in the car space, so it would have to be more like a joint venture arrangement with BMW, for example.

 

[doelcm82]

I like Tesla and want to own one someday. I think they have an Elon Musk problem. The man works too hard. They need to work on perfecting a small lineup and then gradually grow from there. Model 3 should have been first. Also, they need to concentrate on their tech. Sit any mid-level and up 2017/2018 model car up against Tesla. The only difference will be how the tech is actually displayed, and the Tesla won’t have some of the Tech like blind spot monitoring easily accessible. Rear object sensor? Nope.

Blind spot is a problem (but fixable I think). My Model 3 has great rear object sensing. It even tells me how many inches left to go.