Tesla Motors Hires Doug Field, Apple's VP of Mac Hardware Engineering, to Lead New Vehicle Development

Upstart automobile manufacturer Tesla Motors has announced the hiring of Doug Field, former vice president of Mac Hardware Engineering, to lead its development of new vehicles.

Field has been at Apple for more than 5 years and led the development of recent models of the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac -- all of which have seen significant redesigns in past years.

"Doug has demonstrated the leadership and technical talent to develop and deliver outstanding products, including what are widely considered the best computers in the world," said Elon Musk, Tesla co-founder and CEO. "Tesla’s future depends on engineers who can create the most innovative, technologically advanced vehicles in the world. Doug’s experience in both consumer electronics and traditional automotive makes him an important addition to our leadership team."

"Until Tesla came along, I had never seriously considered leaving Apple," said Field. "I started my career with the goal of creating incredible cars, but ultimately left the auto industry in search of fast-paced, exciting engineering challenges elsewhere. As the first high tech auto company in modern history, Tesla is at last an opportunity for me and many others to pursue the dream of building the best cars in the world—while being part of one of the most innovative companies in Silicon Valley."

Field began his career at Ford as a development engineer after graduating MIT, before moving on to Segway and then to Apple.

Tag: Tesla

Top Rated Comments

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macUser2007

80 months ago

I love Tesla cars and would like to own one, one day. However, in this case please don't make them any smaller. I do not love those little smart cars.

Lose some weight....:D

The current Tesla models are hardly small. Nor is the Prius.

Wish the US would tax large engines and gas a bit more, like the rest of the world.

Instead, we subsidize oversized yahoos buying oversized trucks.

Tesla is game-changer for the the auto industry and really the most exciting thing to happen to cars in at least a generation.

Rating: 5 Votes

Drumjim85

80 months ago

Complete with the Mac startup sound when you turn the key :D

Turn the key?

Rating: 5 Votes

autrefois

80 months ago

Looks like Tesla Gen3 is going to be smaller and lighter :p

I'm guessing that this move will mean not only that, but also it will now be put together with custom nuts and bolts that require a Pentalobe tire iron, the motor will be glued together, and it will be incredibly difficult to service anything except through Tesla itself. This will annoy iFixit to no end. :p

Rating: 4 Votes

DPazdanISU

80 months ago

Good for him to follow his dream, but with Musk & Tesla, I can't help but suspect that his talent will be wasted- maybe not, but probably. I think he'd be better utilized at Apple, where what he designs will actually be applied, put into production, and enjoyed by millions of people. Good luck.

He can have a much larger impact at Tesla. What do you want to do, make computers all day or transition human kind from oil to sustainable energy transport? :)

Rating: 3 Votes

monaarts

80 months ago

Turn the key?

I think he unknowingly meant "press the button." :-D

Rating: 3 Votes

erthquake

80 months ago

Want a MacTesla!

Complete with the Mac startup sound when you turn the key :D

Rating: 3 Votes

Peace

80 months ago

Built -In Siri !!

Rating: 3 Votes

carlgo

80 months ago

Wind power is disastrous to the local wildlife population. What we really need is more storage on the grid. Our power plants waste tons of fuel producing excess power.

Don't like windmills either. Where is geothermal? You would think the oil companies with their awesome drilling technology would tap this.

Yes, storage is the key and would make solar vastly more cost efficient. Some propose flywheels for this. Weights on pulleys, water storage, vast underground chambers of compressed air, small compressed air devices all do work to store energy, but for various reasons haven't been put into use on a large scale.

Rating: 2 Votes

macs4nw

80 months ago

I love Tesla cars and would like to own one, one day. However, in this case please don't make them any smaller. I do not love those little smart cars.

Just thinner and lighter..and all-day battery life..lol

Rating: 2 Votes

KFREX

80 months ago

Yeah, there's a great idea let's pay more punitive taxes. You're welcome to contribute extra if you'd like.

I don't know about the over-sized truck subsidies you refer to. but Tesla is a joke - a prime example of corporate welfare. Why is the US and any number of states subsidizing expensive luxury cars (purchased by the wealthy, of course) and thus propping up a company owned by a billionaire. Same goes for his ridiculous solar company. The taxpayers are being robbed - yet again.

Haters gonna hate, but let me just say that of all the automotive companies who borrowed money from the Feds, Tesla is 1 of 2 to actually pay back their ENTIRE loan. That loan was to the tune of $500 Million.. ALREADY PAID BACK IN FULL.

PS. That loan came from the department of energy, NOT bailout funds.

Rating: 2 Votes

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