If Apple's Recent Hires Are Any Indication, The Apple Car Is A Priority

Recent evidence suggests some of the countless rumors about Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)’s car project could be correct. Over the year, the company’s automotive team has been shaping into an important one.

The iPhone maker recently hired Dan Dodge, founder and former CEO of QNX, an OS developer that BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ: BBRY) acquired back in 2010. Prior to working for Apple, Dodge was in charge of BlackBerry’s automotive software division. Sources told Bloomberg the tech behemoth recruited him to help develop self-driving technologies.

Dodge joined the team led by Bob Mansfield, which is in charge of Apple’s cars initiative, dubbed Project Titan. Also part of this squad are John Wright – who runs the software team, Benjamin Lyon – sensors, and D.J. Novotney – hardware engineering.

Per Bloomberg, Project Titan is now more focused on “the development of an autonomous driving system, though it’s not abandoning efforts to design its own vehicle.” Apple spokespeople declined to comment.

But, if the company’s recent hires are any indication, the Apple Car seems to be one of the top priorities right now, especially as iPhone sales continue to decline and competition in other arenas continues to surface.

The chart below illustrates how much the tech and cars world are merging.

Source: Bloomberg