One of Apple's senior managers working on the self-driving car project has left to join a startup focused on flying taxis, marking the latest in a series of departures this year. Michael Schwekutsch, who joined Apple's car project in 2019, has become the Senior Vice President of Engineering at Archer Aviation Inc., which is concentrating on building flying taxis.
Company spokesperson Louise Pritsto stated, "It’s a huge win for him to choose Archer. We are about to complete our first test flights. He is joining us at a pivotal and exciting time for the company." During his time at Apple, Schwekutsch oversaw hardware work for the company's planned self-driving car.
His departure comes as the tech giant in Cupertino, California, seeks to accelerate the project’s development under new leadership from Apple’s Software Chief, Kevin Lynch. Prior to joining Apple, Schwekutsch was Vice President of Engineering at Tesla, where he oversaw driving systems and other hardware components. He became one of Apple's leading engineers focusing on automotive hardware, and his exit leaves a gap in the project's leadership.
Earlier this year, four other managers from Apple's car team left: Dave Scott, Jaime Wadeo, Dave Rosenthal, and Benjamin Leon. Recently, the head of the effort, Doug Field, left Apple for Ford Motor Company, with Lynch taking over his role.
